Minotaur I
{{Short description|Space launch vehicle}}
{{Infobox Rocket
|name = Minotaur I
|image = NFIRE1.jpg
|caption = Minotaur I with NFIRE at MARS
|function = Small expendable launch system
|manufacturer = Northrop Grumman
|country-origin = United States
|height = {{convert|19.21|m}}
|diameter = {{convert|1.67|m}}
|mass = {{convert|36200|kg}}
|stages = 4 or 5
|capacities =
{{Infobox Rocket/Payload
|location = LEO
|kilos = {{convert|580|kg}} }}
{{Infobox Rocket/Payload
|location = SSO
|kilos = {{convert|331|kg}} }}
|status = Active
|sites = Vandenberg SLC-8
MARS LP-0B
|first= 27 January 2000
|last= 18 June 2024
|launches = 13
|success = 13
|stagedata =
{{Infobox Rocket/Stage
|type = stage
|stageno = First
|name = M55A1
|engines = 1 Solid
|thrust = {{convert|935|kN}}
|burntime =
|fuel = Solid
}}
{{Infobox Rocket/Stage
|type = stage
|stageno = Second
|name = SR19
|engines = 1 Solid
|thrust = {{convert|268|kN}}
|burntime =
|fuel = Solid
}}
{{Infobox Rocket/Stage
|type = stage
|stageno = Third
|name = Orion 50XL
|engines = 1 Solid
|thrust = {{convert|118.2|kN}}
|burntime = 74 seconds
|fuel = Solid
}}
{{Infobox Rocket/Stage
|type = stage
|stageno = Fourth
|name = Orion 38
|engines = 1 Solid
|thrust = {{convert|34.8|kN}}
|burntime = 68 seconds
|fuel = Solid
}}
}}
The Minotaur I, or just Minotaur is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minuteman II missile. It is used to launch small satellites for the US Government, and is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation (now Northrop Grumman).{{Cite web|title=Minotaur Rocket|url=https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/minotaur-rocket|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Northrop Grumman|language=en-US}}
Vehicle
The Minotaur I is the follow-on to the Orbital Sciences' Taurus (later renamed the "Minotaur-C"{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=Taurus rocket on the market with new name, upgrades|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1402/24minotaurc/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=24 February 2014|access-date=26 May 2014}}) launch vehicle, combining the original Taurus's booster stage with a second stage from a Minuteman missile.{{cite web|title=Minotaur I Space Launch Vehicle|url=https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/164059main_Minotaur_I_Fact.pdf|website=NASA|date=2006|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225113542/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/164059main_Minotaur_I_Fact.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Minotaur I rockets consist of the M55A1 first stage and SR19 second stage of a decommissioned Minuteman missile. The Orion 50XL and Orion 38, from the Pegasus rocket, are used as third and fourth stages. A HAPS (Hydrazine Auxiliary Propulsion System) upper stage can also be flown if greater precision is needed, or the rocket needs to be able to manoeuvre to deploy multiple payloads.{{cite web|title=Minotaur I User's Guide - Release 3.0|url=http://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/MinotaurI_UG.pdf|publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation|access-date=1 September 2015}} It can place up to {{convert|580|kg}} of payload into a {{convert|185|km|adj=on|sp=us}} low Earth orbit at 28.5 degrees of inclination.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/pdf/326336main_Minotaur_I_Fact.pdf |title=Minotaur I Space Launch Vehicle—Fact Sheet |year=2006 |work=Orbital Sciences |publisher=NASA |access-date=15 June 2021 |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706195329/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/pdf/326336main_Minotaur_I_Fact.pdf |url-status=dead }}
The Minotaur I is 69 feet tall and 5 feet wide.{{Cite web|title=NASA - TacSat-2 Mission Information|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/tacsat2.html|access-date=2021-08-03|website=www.nasa.gov|language=en|archive-date=2022-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628204209/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/tacsat2.html|url-status=dead}}
Initially Minotaur I launches are conducted from Space Launch Complex 8 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Starting with the launch of TacSat-2 in December 2006, launches have also been conducted from Pad 0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island.
Launch history
There have been thirteen launches of the Minotaur I, all successful.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Minotaur_I_Fact.pdf|title=Fact Sheet|work=Minotaur I|publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation|access-date=2009-04-28}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/I/minotaur_history.shtml|title=Minotaur Mission History|work=Minotaur I|publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation|access-date=2009-04-28}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/MinotaurI_UG.pdf|title=Minotaur I Users Guide|work=Minotaur I|publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation|access-date=2015-09-01}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/minotaur.htm|title=Minotaur|first=Mark|last=Wade|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|access-date=2009-04-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508113707/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/minotaur.htm|archive-date=2009-05-08}}
- {{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/minotaur-1.htm|title=Minotaur-1 (OSP-SLV)|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=2009-04-28}}
- {{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/minotaur-1.htm|title=Minotaur-1 (OSP-SLV)|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=2009-04-28}}
- {{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/minotaur-1_haps.htm|title=Minotaur-1 HAPS (OSP-SLV)|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=2009-04-28}}
{{refend}}
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{{Expendable launch systems}}
{{US launch systems}}