Minotaur (rocket)

infobox rocket
name = Minotaur
imsize = 160


caption = Minotaur-1 rocket launching Mightysat-2.1 satellite
function = Small orbital launch vehicle
manufacturer = Orbital Sciences
country-origin = United States
height = 19.21 m
alt-height = 63.02 ft
diameter = 1.67 m
alt-diameter = 5.46 ft
mass = 36,200 kg
alt-mass = 79,800 lb
stages = 4
LEO-payload = 580 kg
alt-LEO = 1,280 lbm
payload-location =SSO (700 km)
payload = 331 kg
alt-payload = 732 lbm
status = Active
sites = SLC-8, Vandenberg AFB
Pad-0B, Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
first=27 January 2000
launches = 7
success = 7
stage1name = M55E1
stage1thrust = 935.000 kN
alt-stage1thrust = 210,196 lb_f
stage1time = TBC
stage1engines = 1 Solid
stage1fuel = Solid
stage2name = SR19AJ1
stage2thrust = 268 kN
stage2time = TBC
alt-stage2thrust = 60300 lb_f
stage2engines = 1 Solid
stage2fuel = Solid
stage3name = Orion 50XL
stage3thrust = 118.200 kN
alt-stage3thrust = 26,572 lb_f
stage3time = 74 seconds
stage3engines = 1 Solid
stage3fuel = Solid
stage4name = Orion 38
stage4thrust = 34.6 kN
stage4time = 68 seconds
alt-stage4thrust = 7,778 lb_f
stage4engines = 1 Solid
stage4fuel = Solid

The Minotaur I Rocket is an American solid fuel rocket designed to launch small satellites. It is built by Orbital Sciences Corporation and uses decommissioned Minuteman 2 solid rocket motors in its first and second stages, combined with Pegasus-based third and fourth stages. It is capable of putting up to 1280 lbm (580 kg) into LEO (100 nmi/185 km, 28.5 deg inclination).

The fourth launch of Minotaur I in September 2005 was a spectacular sunset launch, delivering a fast-growing cloud of colors, visible across the whole southern west coast of the United States. Local authorities reported being flooded with calls about the phenomenon.

The Minotaur I launch of the TacSat-2 spacecraft on 16 December 2006 was the first successful orbital-insertion space launch from Wallops Island, VA in 22 years. [cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/tacsat2.html |title=TacSat-2 Mission Information |publisher=NASA] It was also the inaugural launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) launch facility.

Minotaur orbital flights

Minotaur IV

Orbital Sciences Corporation is currently developing the much more powerful Minotaur IV for the U.S. Air Force. The Minotaur IV combines U.S Government-furnished solid rocket motors from decommissioned Peacekeeper ICBMs with technologies from other Orbital-built launch vehicles, including the Minotaur I, Pegasus, and Taurus. The first Minotaur IV is currently scheduled to launch a U.S. Air Force Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite in early 2009. [cite web |url=http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/IV/ |title=Minotaur IV |publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation] [cite web |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0809/16minotaur4/ |title=Minotaur 4 pathfinder completed at Vandenber |date=September 16, 2008 |publisher=Spaceflight Now]

A Minotaur V five-stage version has also been conceptualized. It would have an additional upper stage for small GTO, lunar, and interplanetary missions.

References

External links

* [http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/I/ Minotaur I Rocket page]
* [http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/IV/ Minotaur IV Rocket page]
* [http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050928.html Image of the September 2005 launch]