Minotaur_V

Minotaur V

Minotaur V

American expendable launch system


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, (now absorbed into Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems) and made its maiden flight on 7 September 2013 carrying the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer spacecraft for NASA.[2] While Minotaur V is still likely active and available to fly, no further flights are scheduled as of April 2024.

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Design

Minotaur V is a five-stage vehicle and is designed to place up to 630 kilograms (1,390 lb) of payload into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, or 342 kilograms (754 lb) on a trans-lunar trajectory.[3] It consists of a Minotaur IV+, with a Star-37 as a fifth stage. Two variants are available, one with a spin-stabilized Star-37FM upper stage, and the other with a Star-37FMV capable of three-axis stabilization.[3] The Star-37FMV upper stage is heavier, reducing payload capacity, but is more maneuverable.

Launch pads

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 2024, the vehicle has only launched from MARS.[4]

Launch history

The only Minotaur V 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.[5] While now separated from the LADEE spacecraft, both the fourth and fifth stages of the Minotaur V reached orbit, and are now derelict satellites in Earth orbit.[6]

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References

  1. "Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Launch" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  2. "Fact Sheet" (PDF). Minotaur V. Orbital Sciences Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-03-11. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  3. Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  4. Stephen Clark (7 September 2013). "Moon mission hits snag after flawless late-night launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  5. Graham, William (6 September 2013). "Orbital's Minotaur V launches LADEE mission to the Moon". NASAspaceflight.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.

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