Getting a launch contract from NRO is a big coup for OSC. I'm presuming it says very good things about the perceived reliability of Minotaur-I. Have they launched any previous NRO payloads?
Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 02/03/2011 10:38 amGetting a launch contract from NRO is a big coup for OSC. I'm presuming it says very good things about the perceived reliability of Minotaur-I. Have they launched any previous NRO payloads?Yes
What is the yellow material covering the bottom part of the booster. Thermal insulation?
What is the yellow material covering the bottom part of the booster. Thermal insulation?http://spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/nrol66/110203gallery/
What strikes me about the pictures from spaceflightnow is that they emphasise just how small the Minotaur is compared to liquid-fuelled LVs. You could see one being launched from a V2-style mobile launcher!
Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 02/04/2011 07:41 amWhat strikes me about the pictures from spaceflightnow is that they emphasise just how small the Minotaur is compared to liquid-fuelled LVs. You could see one being launched from a V2-style mobile launcher!Russia's Minuteman counterpart, Topol, does just that. Several were used to orbit payloads under the START program, and those were launched from mobile launchers. It was never clear to me why the U.S. did not develop a similar capability. - Ed Kyle
Is the launch window length known?
Quote from: Art LeBrun on 02/05/2011 12:08 amIs the launch window length known?I haven't seen anything. Drop zones suggest that it might be going to SSO, so the window could be instantaneous.
Quote from: GW_Simulations on 02/05/2011 12:10 amQuote from: Art LeBrun on 02/05/2011 12:08 amIs the launch window length known?I haven't seen anything. Drop zones suggest that it might be going to SSO, so the window could be instantaneous.Thank you. Now if the clouds and fog can be kept at bay........