Minotaur IV

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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.

References

  1. Stephen Clark (18 November 2010). "Minotaur rocket poised to send research to new heights". Spaceflight Now.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Northrop Grumman (10 September 2020). "Minotaur IV, V, VI User's Guide" (PDF). northropgrumman.com. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Blau, Patrick (2 February 2017). "Minotaur V Launch Vehicle" (PDF). spaceflight101.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  4. "Orbital Successfully Launches First Minotaur IV Rocket for U.S. Air Force" (Press release). Orbital Sciences Corporation. 27 April 2010.
  5. "Air Force Space Officials Prepare To Launch First Minotaur IV". Air Force News Service. 16 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012.
  6. Graham, William (22 April 2010). "First Minotaur IV launches with Hypersonic Test Vehicle". NASAspaceflight.com.
  7. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  8. 1 2 Schaub, Michael B.; Schwartz, Patrick C. "Launches". Mission Set Database. NASA/Honeywell-TSI. Archived from the original on 20 March 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. Hope, Dan (10 August 2011). "DARPA Readies Hypersonic Aircraft for Mach 20 Launch Test". Space.com . Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  10. 1 2 Clark, Stephen. "Minotaur rocket selected to launch military satellite in 2017". Spaceflight Now.
  11. Clark, Stephen. "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  12. "NROL-129 Launch Press Kit" (PDF). NRO. Retrieved 9 July 2020.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  13. "Minotaur IV - NROL-174". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  14. Erwin, Sandra (22 April 2023). "Astra wins $11.5 million contract to launch military experimental payloads". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  15. "Space Systems Command Awards $45.5M Launch Service Order to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation for Prototype EWS Mission". NASASpaceFlight. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  16. 1 2 Brinton, Turner. "Air Force's STP-S26 Mission Loaded with New Technologies". SPACENEWS. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
Minotaur IV
Minotaur-4-Lite HTV-2a 2.jpg
Launch of the first Minotaur IV Lite
FunctionExpendable launch system
Manufacturer
Cost per launch$50 million [1]
Size
Height23.88 m (78.3 ft)
Diameter2.34 m (7 ft 8 in)
Mass86,300 kg (190,300 lb)
Stages4
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Altitude200 km (120 mi)
Orbital inclination28.5°
MassIV: 1,591 kg (3,508 lb)
IV+: 1,837 kg (4,050 lb) [2]