Minotaur III
Encyclopedia
The Minotaur III, also known as OSP-2 Target Launch Vehicle, Peacekeeper TLV or OSP-2 TLV is an American
rocket derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile. It is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation
, and is used for long range suborbital
launches with heavy payloads.
Minotaur III rockets consist of four stages; the SR-118 first stage, SR-119 second stage and SR-120 third stage of a decommissioned Peacekeeper missile, with a Super-HAPS fourth stage, derived from the HAPS
stage used on Pegasus and Minotaur I
rockets. The Minotaur III is capable of launching a 3000 kilograms (6,613.9 lb) payload 5000 kilometres (3,106.9 mi) downrange on a suborbital
trajectory.
Minotaur III launches will be conducted from Vandenberg Air Force Base
and the Kodiak Launch Complex
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rocket derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile. It is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation is an American company which specializes in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. Its Launch Systems Group is heavily involved with missile defense launch systems...
, and is used for long range suborbital
Sub-orbital spaceflight
A sub-orbital space flight is a spaceflight in which the spacecraft reaches space, but its trajectory intersects the atmosphere or surface of the gravitating body from which it was launched, so that it does not complete one orbital revolution....
launches with heavy payloads.
Minotaur III rockets consist of four stages; the SR-118 first stage, SR-119 second stage and SR-120 third stage of a decommissioned Peacekeeper missile, with a Super-HAPS fourth stage, derived from the HAPS
Haps
Haps is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Cuijk, about 5 km south of the town of Cuijk.Haps was a separate municipality until 1994, when it became a part of Cuijk....
stage used on Pegasus and Minotaur I
Minotaur I
The Minotaur I, or just Minotaur is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minuteman II missile. It is used to launch small satellites for the US Government, and is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation.Minotaur I rockets consist of the...
rockets. The Minotaur III is capable of launching a 3000 kilograms (6,613.9 lb) payload 5000 kilometres (3,106.9 mi) downrange on a suborbital
Sub-orbital spaceflight
A sub-orbital space flight is a spaceflight in which the spacecraft reaches space, but its trajectory intersects the atmosphere or surface of the gravitating body from which it was launched, so that it does not complete one orbital revolution....
trajectory.
Minotaur III launches will be conducted from Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
and the Kodiak Launch Complex
Kodiak Launch Complex
The Kodiak Launch Complex is a commercial rocket launch facility for sub-orbital and orbital space launch vehiclesowned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, a public corporation of the State of Alaska....
.