Minotaur family

Minotaur I

ActiveUnited States Orbital Sciences Corporation

The Minotaur I launch system is derived from converted Minuteman II ICBMs and is used to launch small satellites for the US Government. The first and second stages, taken directly from decommissioned Minuteman missiles, are mated to the Orion third and fourth stages taken from the Pegasus XL air-launched rocket family. An optional hydrazine-powered fifth stage called HAPS can be used.The Minotaur I launch system is derived from converted Minuteman II ICBMs and is used to launch small satellites for the US Government. An optional hydrazine-powered fifth stage called HAPS can be used.

Flights flown12

Success rate100%12/12

Payload to LEO580kg

Maiden flight2000-01-27

Peak year20002 flights

Minotaur I is built by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States. Company background, funding, contracts and news for this operator are tracked on Space Index. It first flew on 27 January 2000.

Flight record

12 records

100% success rate12 of 12 flown

2000peak 2000 · 2 flights2021

First flight2000-01-27

Latest flight2021-06-15

Failures0

Consecutive successes12

Fastest turnaround128d 18h

Payload

Per mission profile

Low Earth orbit	580kg
Sun-synchronous orbit	331kg

Vehicle

Stages	5
Length	19.21m
Diameter	1.67m
Launch mass	36t
Liftoff thrust	935kN
Maiden flight	2000-01-27
Reusable	No

Pads used

2 pads

Launch Area 0 B6 Space Launch Complex 86

Orbits delivered

2 orbits

Low Earth Orbit11Polar Orbit1

Launch history

12 launches

Date	Mission	Pad	Orbit	Outcome
2021-06-15	Minotaur I \| NROL-111	Launch Area 0 B	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2013-11-20	Minotaur I \| ORS-3	Launch Area 0 B	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2011-06-30	Minotaur I \| ORS-1 (USA-231)	Launch Area 0 B	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2011-02-06	Minotaur I \| NROL-66 (RPP) (USA-225)	Space Launch Complex 8	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2009-05-19	Minotaur I \| Tacsat 3	Launch Area 0 B	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2007-04-24	Minotaur I \| NFIRE	Launch Area 0 B	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2006-12-16	Minotaur I \| Tacsat 2	Launch Area 0 B	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2006-04-15	Minotaur I \| COSMIC 1-6	Space Launch Complex 8	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2005-09-23	Minotaur I \| STP-R1	Space Launch Complex 8	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2005-04-11	Minotaur I \| XSS-11	Space Launch Complex 8	Low Earth Orbit	Success
2000-07-19	Minotaur I \| Sindri	Space Launch Complex 8	Polar Orbit	Success
2000-01-27	Minotaur I \| JAWSAT & FalconSat 1	Space Launch Complex 8	Low Earth Orbit	Success

Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.