Pegasus is an air-launched multistage rocket developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) and later built and launched by Northrop Grumman. Pegasus is the world's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. Capable of carrying small payloads of up to 443 kg (977 lb) into low Earth orbit,Pegasus first flew in 1990 and remained active as of 2021. The vehicle consists of three solid propellant stages and an optional monopropellant fourth stage. Pegasus is released from its carrier aircraft at approximately 12,000 m (39,000 ft) using a first stage wing and a tail to provide lift and altitude control while in the atmosphere. The first stage does not have a thrust vector control (TVC) system.
Orbital Sciences Corporation was an American company specializing in the design,manufacture,and launch of small- and medium- class space and launch vehicle systems for commercial,military and other government customers. In 2014,Orbital merged with Alliant Techsystems (ATK) to create a new company called Orbital ATK,which in turn was purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2018.
Minotaur-C,formerly known as Taurus or Taurus XL,is a four stage solid fueled launch vehicle built in the United States by Orbital Sciences and launched from SLC-576E at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. It is based on the air-launched Pegasus rocket from the same manufacturer,utilizing a "zeroth stage" in place of an airplane. The Minotaur-C is able to carry a maximum payload of around 1458 kg into a low Earth orbit (LEO).
The Minotaur is a family of United States solid fuel launch vehicles derived from converted Minuteman and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). They are built by Northrop Grumman via contract with the Space Force's Space Systems Command as part of the Space Force's Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) which converts retired Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles into space and test launch systems for U.S. government agencies.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) is a commercial space launch facility located at the southern tip of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island in Virginia,just east of the Delmarva Peninsula and south of Chincoteague,Virginia,United States. It is owned and operated by the Virginia Spaceport Authority.
Antares,known during early development as Taurus II,is an expendable launch system developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation and the Pivdenne Design Bureau to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA's COTS and CRS programs. Able to launch payloads heavier than 8,000 kg (18,000 lb) into low Earth orbit,Antares is the largest rocket operated by Northrop Grumman. Antares launches from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and made its inaugural flight on April 21,2013. Antares 100 was retired in 2014 and series 200 was retired in 2023 due to component unavailability. As of January 2024 Antares 300 is under development.
This comparison of orbital launch systems lists the attributes of all current and future individual rocket configurations designed to reach orbit. A first list contains rockets that are operational or have attempted an orbital flight attempt as of 2024;a second list includes all upcoming rockets. For the simple list of all conventional launcher families,see:Comparison of orbital launchers families. For the list of predominantly solid-fueled orbital launch systems,see:Comparison of solid-fueled orbital launch systems.
Cygnus is an expendable American cargo spacecraft used for International Space Station (ISS) logistics missions. Cygnus was developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation,partially funded by NASA under the agency's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. To create Cygnus,Orbital paired the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module,built by Thales Alenia Space and previously used by the Space Shuttle for ISS logistics,with a service module based on Orbital's GEOStar,a satellite bus. After a successful demonstration flight in 2013,Orbital was chosen to receive a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. A larger Enhanced Cygnus was introduced in 2015. Orbital Sciences was renamed Orbital ATK in 2015 and Northrop Grumman purchased Orbital in 2018 and has continued to operate Cygnus missions.
Minotaur IV,also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an active expendable launch system derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM. It is operated by Northrop Grumman Space Systems,and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010,carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle. The first orbital launch occurred on 26 September 2010 with the SBSS satellite for the United States Air Force.
Launch Pad 0 (LP-0),also known as Launch Complex 0 (LC-0),or Launch Area 0 (LA-0),is a launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island,Virginia,in the United States. MARS is located right next to the NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF),which had run the launch complex until 2003. WFF still provides support services to MARS launches under a contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Stargazer is a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar built in 1974,that was modified in 1994 for use by Orbital Sciences as a mother ship for the Pegasus,a small-lift launch vehicle. As of October 2022,45 rockets have been launched from Stargazer. Stargazer is the only L-1011 airframe still airworthy.
Minotaur V is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minotaur IV,itself a derivative of the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM. It was developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation,and made its maiden flight on 7 September 2013 carrying the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer spacecraft for NASA. While Minotaur V is still likely active and available to fly,no further flights are scheduled as of May 2024.
The Minotaur III,also known as OSP-2 Target Launch Vehicle,Peacekeeper TLV,or OSP-2 TLV was an American rocket concept derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile. It was a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation and would have been used for long-range suborbital launches with heavy payloads. The Minotaur III was to be capable of launching 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) of payload 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi) downrange. This role has been taken over by the near-identical Minotaur IV Lite and the lighter-lift Minotaur II.
Orbital ATK Inc. was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense industry company. It was formed in February 9,2015 from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Orbital ATK designed,built,and delivered rocket engines,military vehicles,firearms,autocannons,missiles,ammunition,precision-guided munitions,satellites,missile approach warning systems,launch vehicles and spacecraft. The company was acquired by Northrop Grumman on June 6,2018. The former Orbital ATK operations were renamed Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems and operated as a division until January 1,2020 when a reorganization merged the operations into the company's other divisions.
A small-lift launch vehicle is a rocket orbital launch vehicle that is capable of lifting 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) or less or under 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). The next larger category consists of medium-lift launch vehicles.
NG-11,previously known as OA-11,is the twelfth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its eleventh flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-1) contract with NASA. The mission launched on 17 April 2019 at 20:46:07 UTC. This is the last mission from the extended CRS-1 contract;follow-up missions are part of the CRS-2 contract. Cygnus NG-11 was also the first mission to load critical hardware onto Cygnus within the last 24 hours prior to launch,a new Antares feature.
Minotaur VI is a proposed expendable launch system derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM. It is a member of the Minotaur rocket family and a higher-performance derivative of the Minotaur IV. The base Minotaur VI consists of a Minotaur IV+ rocket with an additional SR118 first stage motor for improved performance. Minotaur VI is optimized for low Earth orbit (LEO) missions,and can send 3,144 kilograms (6,931 lb) to such an orbit. The Minotaur VI+ variant,however,features a Star 37FM sixth stage and is primarily intended for higher-energy missions.
