Minotaur IV
Function | Expendable launch system |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Orbital Sciences |
Country of origin | United States |
Size | |
Height | 23.88 metres (78.3 ft) |
Diameter | 2.34 metres (7 ft 8 in) |
Mass | 86,300 kg |
Stages | 4 |
Capacity | |
Payload to LEO | |
Mass | 1735 kg (28.5 deg, 185 km) |
Associated rockets | |
Family | Minotaur |
Derivative work | Minotaur V |
Launch history | |
Status | Active |
Launch sites | SLC-8, Vandenberg AFB LP-0B, MARS LP-1, Kodiak |
Total launches | 1 |
Success(es) | 1 |
First flight | 22 April 2010 |
First stage – SR-118 | |
Powered by | 1 Solid |
Maximum thrust | 2,200 kilonewtons (490,000 lbf) |
Propellant | Solid |
Second stage – SR-119 | |
Powered by | 1 Solid |
Maximum thrust | 1,365 kilonewtons (307,000 lbf) |
Burn time | 54 seconds |
Propellant | Solid |
Third stage – SR-120 | |
Powered by | 1 Solid |
Maximum thrust | 329 kilonewtons (74,000 lbf) |
Burn time | 62 seconds |
Propellant | Solid |
Fourth stage (Baseline) – Orion-38 | |
Powered by | 1 Solid |
Maximum thrust | 32.2 kilonewtons (7,200 lbf) |
Burn time | 67.7 seconds |
Propellant | Solid |
Fourth stage (Optional) – Star-48V | |
Powered by | 1 Solid |
Maximum thrust | 68.6 kilonewtons (15,400 lbf) |
Burn time | 84.1 seconds |
Propellant | Solid |
The Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an American expendable launch system derived from the Peacekeeper missile. It is operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle. The first orbital launch is currently scheduled to occur on 8 July 2010, with the SBSS satellite for the United States Air Force.
The Minotaur IV is a four stage vehicle, capable of placing 1,735 kilograms (3,825 lb) of payload into a Low Earth orbit (LEO). It uses the first three stages of the Peacekeeper missile, combined with a new upper stage. On the baseline version, the fourth stage is an Orion-38, however a higher performance variant, designated Minotaur IV+, uses a Star-48V instead. A three stage configuration (no Orion-38), designated the Minotaur IV Lite, is available for Suborbital trajectories. A five stage derivative, the Minotaur V, is also under development.
Minotaur IV launches will be conducted from SLC-8 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, LP-0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, and Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex.
Launches
Date/Time (UTC) | Variant | Launch Site | Payload | Trajectory | Outcome | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 April 2010 23:00 |
Minotaur IV Lite | Vandenberg SLC-8 | HTV-2a | Suborbital | Successful | Hypersonic Test Vehicle |
Scheduled Launches | ||||||
8 July 2010[1] | Minotaur IV | Vandenberg SLC-8 | SBSS | LEO | ||
1 September 2010[1] | Minotaur IV | Kodiak LP-1 | STP S26 FASTRAC-A FASTRAC-B FalconSat-5 FASTSAT O/OREOS RAX |
LEO | Includes a Hydrazine Auxiliary Propulsion System (HAPS) to take the vehicle to a secondary orbit | |
4rd Q 2010 | Minotaur IV+ | Kodiak LP-1 | TacSat-4 | LEO | First Minotaur IV+ launch | |
1st Q 2011 | Minotaur IV Lite | Vandenberg SLC-8 | HTV-2b | Suborbital | ||
4th Q 2011 | Minotaur IV Lite | Vandenberg SLC-8 | CSM | Suborbital | ||
3rd Q 2012 | Minotaur IV | Vandenberg SLC-8 | TacSat-5 | LEO | Might launch on a Minotaur I |
References
- ^ a b Schaub, Michael B.; Schwartz, Patrick C. "Launches". Mission Set Database. NASA/Honeywell-TSI. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
- "Fact Sheet" (PDF). Minotaur IV. Orbital Sciences Corporation. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
External links
- Air Force Space Officials Prepare To Launch First Minotaur IV - www.space-travel.com, Apr 19, 2010
- First Minotaur IV launch – with Hypersonic Test Vehicle – delayed