- Minotaur III
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Minotaur III Function Heavy suborbital launch system Manufacturer Orbital Sciences Country of origin United States
Size Stages Four Capacity Payload to
5000km S/O3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) Launch history Status Development Launch sites Vandenberg
KodiakFirst Stage - SR-118 Engines 1 Solid Thrust 1,607 kilonewtons (361,000 lbf) Burn time 83 seconds Fuel Solid Second Stage - SR-119 Engines 1 Solid Thrust 1,365 kilonewtons (307,000 lbf) Burn time 54 seconds Fuel Solid Third Stage - SR-120 Engines 1 Solid Thrust 329 kilonewtons (74,000 lbf) Burn time 62 seconds Fuel Solid Fourth Stage - Super-HAPS Engines 12 MR-107K Thrust Fuel Hydrazine The Minotaur III, also known as OSP-2 Target Launch Vehicle, Peacekeeper TLV or OSP-2 TLV is an American rocket derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile. It is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and is used for long range suborbital launches with heavy payloads.
Minotaur III rockets consist of four stages; the SR-118 first stage, SR-119 second stage and SR-120 third stage of a decommissioned Peacekeeper missile, with a Super-HAPS fourth stage, derived from the HAPS stage used on Pegasus and Minotaur I rockets. The Minotaur III is capable of launching a 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) payload 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi) downrange on a suborbital trajectory.
Minotaur III launches will be conducted from Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Kodiak Launch Complex.
References
- "Fact Sheet". Minotaur III. Orbital Sciences Corporation. http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Minotaur_III_Fact.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- Wade, Mark. "Minotaur". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/minotaur.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3 (OSP-2 Peacekeepr TLV)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/minotaur-3.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/minotaur-4.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
Categories:- Rocketry stubs
- Minotaur rockets
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