Minotaur III

Minotaur III

Function	Heavy suborbital launch system
Manufacturer	Orbital Sciences
Country of origin	United States
Size
Stages	Four
Capacity
Payload to 5000km S/O	3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb)
Launch history
Status	Development
Launch sites	Vandenberg Kodiak
First 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.