Minotaur V

Minotaur V

The first Minotaur V at MARS before the launch of LADEE.
Function Expendable launch system
Manufacturer Orbital Sciences
Country of origin United States
Size
Height 24.56 m[1]
Diameter 2.67 m[1]
Mass 89,373 kg[1]
Stages Five
Capacity
Payload to GTO 532 kg
Payload to TLI 342 kg
Associated rockets
Family Minotaur
Launch history
Status Active
Launch sites SLC-8, Vandenberg AFB
LP-0B, MARS
LP-1, Kodiak
Total launches 1
Successes 1
First flight 7 September 2013
First stage - SR-118
Engines 1 Solid
Thrust 1,607 kilonewtons (361,000 lbf)
Burn time 83 seconds
Fuel Solid
Second stage - SR-119
Engines 1 Solid
Thrust 1,365 kilonewtons (307,000 lbf)
Burn time 54 seconds
Fuel Solid
Third stage - SR-120
Engines 1 Solid
Thrust 329 kilonewtons (74,000 lbf)
Burn time 62 seconds
Fuel Solid
Fourth stage - Star-48BV
Engines 1 Solid
Thrust 64 kilonewtons (14,000 lbf)
Burn time 84 seconds
Fuel Solid
Fifth stage (Baseline) - Star-37FM
Engines 1 Solid
Thrust 47.26 kilonewtons (10,620 lbf)
Burn time 63 seconds
Fuel Solid
Fifth stage (Optional) - Star-37FMV
Engines 1 Solid
Fuel Solid

The 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, and made its maiden flight on 7 September 2013 carrying the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer spacecraft for NASA.[2]

Design

The 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 Air Force Base, Pad 0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), and Pad 1 of the Kodiak Launch Complex are all capable of accommodating the Minotaur V. As of 2013, all scheduled launches are from MARS.[4]

Launch history

The initial launch of a 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]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Launch" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  2. "Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Mission website". NASA.
  3. 1 2 "Fact Sheet" (PDF). Minotaur V. Orbital Sciences Corporation. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  4. Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  5. Stephen Clark (7 September 2013). "Moon mission hits snag after flawless late-night launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  6. 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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