Minotaur (rocket family)
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The Minotaur is a family of American solid fuel rockets derived from converted Minuteman and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles. They are built by Orbital Sciences Corporation.
Two variants of the Minotaur are currently in service. The Minotaur I is an orbital launch system used to launch small satellites into low Earth orbit. The Minotaur II, also known as Chimera and TLV, is used for suborbital flights, often as a target for tracking and anti-ballistic missile tests. Three more versions are also under development. These are the Minotaur III, which will also be used for suborbital flights, the Minotaur IV, a more capable LEO launch system, and the Minotaur V, which is designed to reach higher orbits, including GTO and trans-lunar trajectories. The Minotaur I and II are derived from the Minuteman missile, whilst the Minotaur III, IV and V are derived from the Peacekeeper.
Due to US laws prohibiting the sale of Government equipment, Minotaur rockets are only used to launch satellites for the US Government, and are not available to commercial customers.[citation needed]
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[edit] Minotaur I
The original Minotaur launch vehicle, consisting of an M55A1 first stage, SR19 second stage, Orion 50XL third stage, Orion 38 fourth stage, and optional HAPS fifth stage for velocity trim and multiple payload deployment. Payload 580 kg to a 185 km, 28.5 degree orbit from Cape Canaveral; or 310 kg to a 740 km sun-synchronous orbit from Vandenberg. [1]
[edit] Minotaur II
A suborbital target vehicle, essentially consisting of a Minuteman II with Orbital guidance and control systems. Consists of M55A1 first stage, SR19 second stage, and M57 third stage. Payload 460 kg on 6700 km suborbital trajectory.[1]
[edit] Minotaur III
A suborbital target vehicle, consisting of an SR-118 first stage, SR-119 second stage, SR-120 third stage, and Super HAPS fourth stage. Payload 3060 kg on a 6700 km suborbital trajectory.[1]
[edit] 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.[2][3]
[edit] Minotaur V
A Minotaur V five-stage version has also been conceptualized. It would have an additional upper stage for small GTO, lunar, and interplanetary missions. The LADEE mission has baselined using the Minotaur V.
[edit] Launch history
| Date (UTC) | Rocket | Flight | Payload | Launch pad | Trajectory | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 27, 2000 03:03:06 | Minotaur I | 1 | JAWSat (P98-1) (FalconSat1 / ASUSat1 / OCSE / OPAL) | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| May 28, 2000 20:00 | Minotaur II | 1 | OSP-TLV Missile Defense Technology Demonstrator | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| July 19, 2000 20:09:00 | Minotaur I | 2 | MightySat II.1 (Sindri, P99-1) / MEMS 2A / MEMS 2B | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| December 4, 2001 04:59 | Minotaur II | 2 | TLV-1 IFT-7 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| March 16, 2002 02:11 | Minotaur II | 3 | TLV-2 IFT-8 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| October 15, 2002 02:01 | Minotaur II | 4 | TLV-3 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| December 11, 2002 08:26 | Minotaur II | 5 | TLV-4 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| April 11, 2005 13:35:00 | Minotaur I | 3 | XSS-11 | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| September 23, 2005 02:24:00 | Minotaur I | 4 | Streak (STP-R1) | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| April 15, 2006 01:40:00 | Minotaur I | 5 | COSMIC (FORMOSAT-3) | Vandenberg SLC-8 | LEO | Success |
| December 16, 2006 12:00 | Minotaur I | 6 | TacSat-2 / GeneSat-1 | MARS LP-0B | LEO | Success |
| March 21, 2007 04:27 | Minotaur II | 6 | TLV-5 FTX-02 SBR target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| April 24, 2007 06:48 | Minotaur I | 7 | NFIRE | MARS LP-0B | LEO | Success |
| August 23, 2007 08:30 | Minotaur II | 7 | TLV-7 Mission 2a sensor target for NFIRE sattelitte | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | Success |
| May 19, 2009 19:55 | Minotaur I | 8 | TacSat-3 | MARS LP-0B | LEO | Success |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Minotaur". Encyclopedia Astronautix. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/minotaur.htm.
- ^ "Minotaur IV". Orbital Sciences Corporation. http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/IV/.
- ^ "Minotaur 4 pathfinder completed at Vandenber". Spaceflight Now. September 16, 2008. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0809/16minotaur4/.
[edit] External links
- Minotaur I Rocket page
- Minotaur IV Rocket page
- Image of the September 2005 launch
- Encyclopedia Astronautix Entry for Minotaur
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