Minotaur V

File:LADEE_Encapsulated_in_the_Fairing_%289674482640%29.jpg probe is prepared for fairing encapsulation ahead of its launch in 2013. The Star 37FM fifth stage is visible as the silver cylinder directly below the spacecraft.]]

Minotaur V is a five-stage launch vehicle designed by Orbital Sciences (now owned by Northrop Grumman) to place up to {{convert|630|kg}} of payload into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or {{convert|342|kg}} on a trans-lunar trajectory.{{cite web |url=http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Minotaur_V_Fact.pdf |title=Fact Sheet |work=Minotaur V |publisher=Orbital Sciences Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060311040203/http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Minotaur_V_Fact.pdf |access-date=22 January 2013|archive-date=2006-03-11 }} It is derived from the Minotaur IV rocket and is essentially a Minotaur IV+ with an added fifth stage to improve performance to highly-elliptical orbits.

Minotaur V's first stage SR118 motor provides {{convert|2224|kN}} of thrust during its 56.6-second burn, followed immediately after by stage separation and second-stage ignition. The second stage, powered by an SR119 motor, burns for 61 seconds and provides an average thrust of {{convert|1223|kN}}. The third stage then burns for 72 seconds, with an average thrust of {{convert|289|kN}}. After third stage shutdown and separation, the vehicle coasts before igniting the Star 48BV fourth stage. The first four stages all have thrust vector control, allowing them to steer the rocket downrange by gimballing the motor nozzles. The second and third stages also feature extendable nozzles, allowing for improved performance in the upper portions of Earth's atmosphere as well as the vacuum of space.

The fifth stage consists of a Star 37 motor, which burns for 62.7 seconds and is responsible for deploying the payload into its final orbit. Two variants are available, one with a 60 RPM spin-stabilized Star-37FM upper stage, and the other with a Star-37FMV capable of three-axis stabilization. The Star-37FMV upper stage is heavier than the FM variant by {{convert|22|kg}}, reducing payload capacity, but can allow for finer control. The FMV variant also notably features a larger nozzle than the FM, providing slightly higher thrust and specific impulse.

The first 3 stages make up the majority of the rocket's body, while the smaller fourth stage is housed in a hollow cylindrical structure referred to as the "Guidance and Control Assembly skirt" (GCA skirt). The fifth stage is housed within the payload fairing, sitting atop an adaptor to the fourth stage below it.

Minotaur V uses the same standard {{convert|92|in|m|abbr=on}}-diameter carbon-composite payload fairing as the other Minotaur IV variants. A larger {{convert|110|in|m|abbr=on}}-diameter composite fairing is also available for larger payloads. To date, no Minotaur rockets have flown with the larger fairing option.

Space Launch Complex 8 at the Vandenberg Space Force Base, Pad 0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), and Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex are all capable of accommodating Minotaur V. As of 2025, the vehicle has only launched from MARS.{{cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/minotaur-4.htm |title=Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV) |first=Gunter |last=Krebs |publisher=Gunter's Space Page |access-date=22 January 2013}}

The only Minotaur V launch occurred on 7 September 2013 at 03:27 UTC from Launch Pad 0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia. The payload for the maiden flight was the LADEE lunar exoatmosphere science spacecraft (SATCAT: 39246, decay date: 18 April 2014).{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/ladee/130907launch/#.Uisgjn_b0_s |title=Moon mission hits snag after flawless late-night launch |author=Stephen Clark |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date=7 September 2013 |access-date=7 September 2013}}

While now separated from the LADEE spacecraft, both the fourth and fifth stages of the Minotaur V reached orbit, and became derelict satellites in Earth orbit (SATCAT: 39248, decay date: 27 November 2013).

{{cite web |last=Graham |first=William |title=Orbital's Minotaur V launches LADEE mission to the Moon |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/orbitals-minotaur-v-launch-ladee-mission-moon/ |access-date=8 September 2013 |publisher=NASAspaceflight.com |date=6 September 2013}}

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{{Expendable launch systems}}

{{US launch systems}}

Category:Minotaur (rocket family)