Author Topic: LIVE: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - October 31, 2017  (Read 95095 times)

Offline baldusi

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #20 on: 02/21/2014 01:31 pm »
Dual Castor-120, the second one wit vacuum optimized nozzle, perhaps?

Offline Kim Keller

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #21 on: 02/21/2014 02:41 pm »
Dual Castor-120, the second one wit vacuum optimized nozzle, perhaps?

Sorry, no. This is not a new rocket.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #22 on: 02/21/2014 04:27 pm »
Minotaur-C is using a payload fairing that is only used by Minotaur and OBV launchers is what I read. So if it is a rebranded Taurus it is not using the previous fairing system. So if my previous sentence stands correct it may be using Payload fairing used by Minotaur-1 or II otherwise I know that it is not the fairing system used on the failed Taurus-XL as it is worded as indicating that the Fairing and rest of the launcher originate from only OBV, Minotaur and Pegasus-XL.

Offline Kim Keller

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #23 on: 02/21/2014 05:50 pm »
Minotaur-C is using a payload fairing that is only used by Minotaur and OBV launchers is what I read. So if it is a rebranded Taurus it is not using the previous fairing system. So if my previous sentence stands correct it may be using Payload fairing used by Minotaur-1 or II otherwise I know that it is not the fairing system used on the failed Taurus-XL as it is worded as indicating that the Fairing and rest of the launcher originate from only OBV, Minotaur and Pegasus-XL.

My understanding is that this mission will use the 92" fairing, which is from the Taurus XL catalog and has flown successfully. The failed Taurus XL missions used the 63" fairing.

Please note: OBV, Pegasus XL, Minotaur I & III/IV/V, and Taurus XL all share various ATK motors.

Offline edkyle99

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #24 on: 02/21/2014 06:25 pm »
Come on Orbital.  Pick a name and stick to it!

 - Ed Kyle

Offline Robotbeat

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #25 on: 02/21/2014 10:50 pm »
There were multiple things that had to go wrong with the Taurus fairing for it not to work. They've fixed those problems. I would be more worried about the next Falcon 9 v1.1 launch than I would about another Taurus XL fairing problem. Read a little about it here (though it doesn't tell the whole story) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_(rocket)#Glory_launch_failure
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

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Offline Kim Keller

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #26 on: 02/22/2014 01:30 am »
There were multiple things that had to go wrong with the Taurus fairing for it not to work.

No, just one thing.

Offline edkyle99

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #27 on: 02/22/2014 03:36 am »
I wonder if the renaming of Taurus to Minotaur C (assuming this is what is happening) might be avionics-based.  Minotaur was equipped from the outset with an upgraded version of Orbital's older Pegasus and Taurus avionics system.  This included the inclusion of Orbital's Modular Avionics Control Hardware (MACH) system and the use of high-data rate telemetry.  MACH was originally developed, as I understand it, for OSP and Target Launch Vehicle.  Perhaps a Taurus equipped with updated Minotaur avionics suite is now going to be called "Minotaur C". 

Just a guess.

 - Ed Kyle

Offline Kim Keller

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #28 on: 02/22/2014 03:50 am »
I wonder if the renaming of Taurus to Minotaur C (assuming this is what is happening) might be avionics-based.  Minotaur was equipped from the outset with an upgraded version of Orbital's older Pegasus and Taurus avionics system.  This included the inclusion of Orbital's Modular Avionics Control Hardware (MACH) system and the use of high-data rate telemetry.  MACH was originally developed, as I understand it, for OSP and Target Launch Vehicle.  Perhaps a Taurus equipped with updated Minotaur avionics suite is now going to be called "Minotaur C". 

Just a guess.

 - Ed Kyle

You're on to something there, Ed. But it's not just a MACH upgrade; it's cutting loose the soiled baggage of the past.

Offline edkyle99

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #29 on: 02/22/2014 04:04 am »
You're on to something there, Ed. But it's not just a MACH upgrade; it's cutting loose the soiled baggage of the past.
Unless it uses different motors, I'll still call it Taurus.  :)

 - Ed Kyle

Offline Robotbeat

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #30 on: 02/22/2014 04:15 am »
There were multiple things that had to go wrong with the Taurus fairing for it not to work.

No, just one thing.
No, more than one aspect...
« Last Edit: 02/22/2014 04:16 am by Robotbeat »
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To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

Offline Silmfeanor

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #31 on: 02/22/2014 07:59 am »
There were multiple things that had to go wrong with the Taurus fairing for it not to work.

No, just one thing.
No, more than one aspect...

Could you elaborate please Robotbeat, instead of just saying "you're wrong"?

Offline osiossim

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #32 on: 02/22/2014 08:24 am »
http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/39561skybox-taps-orbital-sciences-for-2015-minotaur-launch

"While the Minotaur is based on the U.S. Peacekeeper and Minuteman missile programs, its commercial Minotaur-C version uses four solid-fueled motors built by ATK."

« Last Edit: 02/22/2014 08:24 am by osiossim »

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #33 on: 02/22/2014 07:03 pm »
You're on to something there, Ed. But it's not just a MACH upgrade; it's cutting loose the soiled baggage of the past.
Unless it uses different motors, I'll still call it Taurus.  :)

 - Ed Kyle
If they decided to rename it, we have no choice but to use the new name. Very few are still using Taurus II to describe Orbital's Antares. Do you still call a post merger Boeing 717 a MD-95 or  DC-9?

btw.  When Kim Keller wrote: When you folks see pictures of it I believe you will indeed recognize it. I was so tempted to post a picture of a Saturn V with a big old question mark, then thought better of it ;)
« Last Edit: 02/22/2014 07:04 pm by kevin-rf »
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Offline edkyle99

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #34 on: 02/22/2014 07:34 pm »
Unless it uses different motors, I'll still call it Taurus.  :)
 - Ed Kyle
If they decided to rename it, we have no choice but to use the new name. Very few are still using Taurus II to describe Orbital's Antares. Do you still call a post merger Boeing 717 a MD-95 or  DC-9?
I'll call it whatever name Orbital assigns, but if it is simply a rename its reliability record will still include launches made under its old name.

 - Ed Kyle

Offline Kim Keller

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #35 on: 02/23/2014 12:43 am »
There were multiple things that had to go wrong with the Taurus fairing for it not to work.

No, just one thing.
No, more than one aspect...

Since I was involved in the investigation you'll have to be a bit more specific.

Offline baldusi

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #36 on: 02/23/2014 01:28 pm »
Wasn't a material uncontrolled secondary property that failed to propagate the fissure?

Offline Kim Keller

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #37 on: 02/24/2014 05:02 pm »
Wasn't a material uncontrolled secondary property that failed to propagate the fissure?

If that's meant to indicate that the frangible joint was not manufactured by a subcontractor to aerospace requirements, then you're right.

Offline Kim Keller

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Offline Lurker Steve

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat-4/5/6/7/8/9? - Late 2015
« Reply #39 on: 02/24/2014 09:28 pm »
So it actually uses the "standard" Minotaur fairing, and not the same fairing as the Taurus.


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