Minotaur
| Status | Retired |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Manufacturer | Northrop Grumman |
| Number of orbital launches | 19 |
| First launch | 2000-01-27 |
| Last launch | 2025-04-16 |
The Minotaur rocket is a four-stage launch vehicle. It's constructed using a combination of U.S. government supplied Minuteman II motors and other proven space launch technologies. The Minuteman rocket motors serve as the vehicle's first and second stages. The third and fourth stages are common with the Pegasus XL rocket.
Launches by year:
Launches:
| Launch date | Launch site | Rocket / Variant | Payload | Notes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-16 | Vandenberg | Minotaur 4 | NROL 174 (USA 521/522) | success | |
| 2021-06-15 | Wallops Island | Minotaur 1 | NROL 111 (USA 316/317/318) | success | |
| 2020-07-15 | Wallops Island | Minotaur 4 | NROL 129 (USA 305/306/307/308) | success | |
| 2017-08-26 | Cape Canaveral | Minotaur 4 | ORS 5 | success | |
| 2013-11-20 | Wallops Island | Minotaur 1 | ORS 3 | success | |
| 2013-09-07 | Wallops Island | Minotaur 5 | LADEE | B | success |
| 2011-09-27 | Kodiak | Minotaur 4+ | TacSat 4 | success | |
| 2011-06-30 | Wallops Island | Minotaur 1 | ORS 1 | success | |
| 2011-02-06 | Vandenberg | Minotaur 1 | RPP (USA 225, NROL 66) | success | |
| 2010-11-20 | Kodiak | Minotaur 4 HAPS | STP S26 | success | |
| 2010-09-26 | Vandenberg | Minotaur 4 | SBSS | success | |
| 2009-05-19 | Wallops Island | Minotaur 1 | TacSat 3 / 4 secondary | success | |
| 2007-04-24 | Wallops Island | Minotaur 1 | NFIRE | success | |
| 2006-12-16 | Wallops Island | Minotaur 1 | Tacsat 2 | success | |
| 2006-04-15 | Vandenberg | Minotaur 1 | Formosat 3A-F | success | |
| 2005-09-23 | Vandenberg | Minotaur 1 | STP-R1 (Streak) | success | |
| 2005-04-11 | Vandenberg | Minotaur 1 | XSS-11 | success | |
| 2000-07-19 | Vandenberg | Minotaur 1 | Mightysat 2.1 | success | |
| 2000-01-27 | Vandenberg | Minotaur 1 | JAWSAT + 7usats | success | |
Variants:
(This section is under construction)Minotaur 1
| First launch | 2000-01-27 |
|---|---|
| Stages | 4 |
Payload capacity:
| LEO | 580 kg to 185 km, 28.5 deg |
|---|
Minotaur 4
| First launch | 2010-09-26 |
|---|---|
| Stages | 3 |
Payload capacity:
| LEO | 1591 kg to 200 km, 28.5 deg |
|---|
Minotaur 4 HAPS
| First launch | 2010-11-20 |
|---|---|
| Stages | 4 |
Minotaur 4+
| First launch | 2011-09-27 |
|---|---|
| Stages | 4 |
| Upper stage | Star 48 |
Payload capacity:
| LEO | 1837 kg to 200 km, 28.5 deg |
|---|
Minotaur 4 with the larger STAR 48BV motor in place of the standard Stage 4 Orion 38 motor. It provides approximately 200 kg of increased performance to low-earth circular orbits and enables missions requiring highly elliptical orbits.
Minotaur 5
| First launch | 2013-09-07 |
|---|---|
| Stages | 5 |
| Upper stage | Star 37 |
Payload capacity:
| GTO | 678 kg |
|---|
Upgraded 4+ which Incorporates a Star 37 fifth stage within the fairing.
Minotaur 6
| Stages | 6 |
|---|---|
| Mass | 137.1 t |
| Height | 32.28 m |
Payload capacity:
| LEO | 3400 kg to 200 km / 28.5 deg |
|---|
Variant with an additional Peacekeeper Stage 1 (SR118) below the existing Minotaur IV+ stack (SR118-SR119-SR120-STAR 48BV). The 6+ variant have an increased capability by adding a Star 37FM as the final stage. It extends the Minotaur 6 LEO capability to 3360 kg (7400 lbm). The Minotaur 6+ vehicle is also very capable for highly elliptical orbits or Earth escape trajectories such as a 300 kg (660 lbm) spacecraft on a trajectory to Mars.