Today’s mission was the 16th mission for the Minotaur program since its
inception in 2000, all of which have been fully successful. It was also
the third Minotaur I launch from the MARS facility, following the
TacSat-2 and NFIRE missions conducted from the
“We are very pleased with the results of this evening’s flight of the
Minotaur I rocket, and are proud to be able to support the Air Force’s
important work in the area of Operationally Responsive Space (ORS)
systems,” said Mr.
Orbital will conduct the first two Minotaur IV flights later this year
when it launches TacSat-4, the next in the Air Force’s series of
smaller-sized tactical satellites, from
The TacSat-3 spacecraft is designed to meet the growing need of U.S.
forces for flexible, affordable and responsive satellite systems. The
program is a joint effort of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s
The overall launch service and management for the Minotaur I vehicle was
provided by the Air Force SMC’s
About Orbital’s Minotaur Product Line
Orbital’s Minotaur product line was developed under the U.S. Air Force’s Orbital/Suborbital Program (OSP). The initial five-year OSP contract was competitively awarded to Orbital in 1997 and the company also won the follow-on 10-year OSP-2 contract in 2003. The Minotaur I space launch vehicle design used in today’s TacSat-3 launch is the original member of Orbital’s Minotaur family of launch vehicles, which includes both space launch vehicle designs and long-range suborbital vehicles for missile defense and other specialized launch missions.
The Minotaur vehicles are the only proven launch vehicles currently
capable of supporting the Department of Defense’s evolving ORS launch
requirements and are also specifically designed to be capable of
launching from all U.S. spaceports, including government and commercial
launch sites in
The Minotaur I space launch configuration combines Orbital’s commercial
launch vehicle technologies, including upper stage rocket motors,
structures, avionics and other elements, with government-supplied
lower-stage rocket motor stages to create responsive, reliable and
low-cost launch systems for
The Minotaur family of launch vehicles utilizes standardized avionics and subsystems, mature processes and experienced personnel to make them reliable and cost effective. In addition to the Minotaur I space booster, Orbital’s Minotaur product line also includes:
- Minotaur II - A three-stage suborbital rocket used as a target vehicle for testing U.S. missile defense systems and related missions;
- Minotaur III - A three-stage suborbital rocket, Minotaur III can deliver suborbital technology demonstration payloads of up to 6,500 lbs. or serve as a target vehicle for testing U.S. missile defense systems and similar missions;
-
Minotaur IV - A heavier-lift
four-stage space launch vehicle using retired Peacekeeper rocket
motors, capable of launching
U.S. Government -sponsored satellites weighing up to 3,800 lbs. into low-altitude orbit. The first Minotaur IV missions are scheduled for later this year, carrying the TacSat-4 and SBSS satellites for theU.S. Air Force ; and
- Minotaur V - An enhanced-performance version of the Minotaur IV space launch vehicle that may be used to launch government satellites into higher-energy orbits for missions related to space exploration and other activities beyond low-Earth orbit.
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company’s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to government agencies and laboratories.
More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com
Note to Editors:
High-resolution photos of the Minotaur rocket are available on Orbital’s website at: http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Images/SpaceLaunch
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5969605&lang=en
Source:
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528
Public
and Investor Relations
Beneski.barron@orbital.com