Quote from: Star One on 10/31/2017 08:39 pmLaunch with the oddly named stage 0 performing nominally.I liked the explanation given during the webcast that on Minotaur-C, "Stage 0" is a replacement for L1011 Stargazer, since it is essentially a wingless Pegasus stacked on top! - Ed Kyle
Launch with the oddly named stage 0 performing nominally.
First Taurus (Minotaur-C) success since May 20, 2004 - nearly 13.5 years ago!I hope we see more, but I've noticed that Castor 120 production was listed as "inactive" in the 2016 OATK catalog. - Ed Kyle
CASTOR® 120XLThis variant of the CASTOR 120® predecessor is used as a first or second stage in commercial launch vehicles and provides improved performance over the baseline configuration. A version of this motor was static tested for the U.S. Air Force as part of the Large Class Stage development program, however the motor is being updated to tailor burn rates and improve performance, as well as utilize common materials & processes to improve cost control for launch vehicle providers.
Orbital ATK Successfully Launches Minotaur C Rocket Carrying 10 Spacecraft to Orbit for PlanetMade in California – Spacecraft Manufacturing, Rocket Integration and LaunchDulles, Virginia 31 October 2017 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, announced its commercial Minotaur C rocket successfully launched 10 commercial spacecraft into orbit for Planet. The Minotaur C launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.The rocket’s first stage ignited at 2:37 p.m. (PDT), and just over 12 minutes later, Planet’s six SkySat spacecraft began to deploy one at a time into their targeted sun synchronous orbit 310 miles (500 kilometers) above the Earth. Following deployment of the main satellites, Planet’s four secondary Dove spacecraft deployed. From this orbit, the Dove and SkySat network of remote sensing satellites will deliver a global information feed to businesses, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world.“It’s an honor to deliver reliable and affordable access to space for commercial customers like Planet,” said Rich Straka, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles Division. “Launching small- and medium-class payloads on dedicated Orbital ATK launch vehicles gives commercial customers the ability to control their schedules while meeting challenging mission requirements.”The Minotaur C rocket is an all-commercial vehicle capable of launching payloads up to 3,500 lbs. The configuration that launched today included four solid rocket commercial motors: CASTOR 120®, Orion 50S XL, Orion 50 XL and Orion 38. Orbital ATK manufactured all four motors at facilities in Clearfield, Magna and Promontory, Utah. The company manufactured the avionics, software and separation systems at facilities in Chandler, Arizona. Integration of the Minotaur C rocket took place at Vandenberg Air Force Base.Planet’s Dove and SkySat satellites, which are manufactured in California, are some of the most capable spacecraft per kilogram ever produced. A record-breaking 275 Dove satellites have been successfully deployed and operated in space and today collect more imagery per day than any other fleet of commercial satellites. The constellation of 13 SkySats is the world’s largest commercial, sub-meter fleet of high-res satellites operating in space.
Broadcast of Orbital ATK's Minotaur C Launch of Planet SatellitesOrbital ATK 73 viewsPublished on 1 Nov 2017Orbital ATK successfully launched its Minotaur C rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on October 31 at 2:37 p.m. PDT. The space launch vehicle deployed six SkySat and four Dove spacecraft, which will capture medium and high resolution multispectral imagery of Earth at unprecedented scale and frequency for the commercial market.
Better launch image via. Planet, credited to Orbital ATK. Orbital itself still has only released a 700x1000 image. I can't understand why they would hoard their pixels. - Ed Kyle
Without the telemetry you are working completely in the dark.