Minotaur IV - NROL 174 - VSFB SLC-8 - NET TBD 2024

[Vahe231991]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/15/minotaur-rocket-successfully-deploys-four-nro-satellites-in-orbit/

The launch of the NROL-174 is currently scheduled for late 2021 although no set date for the 4th quarter of year has been set. Nevertheless, the NROL-174 launch will be the second NRO launch aboard a Minotaur IV rocket.

[Skyrocket]

This one seems to have been moved to 2022, as NRO announced, that NROL-111 was the last planned NRO launch for 2021.

[Fmedici]

This one seems to have been moved to 2022, as NRO announced, that NROL-111 was the last planned NRO launch for 2021.

Official confirmation (if someone nedded a written reference): https://www.nro.gov/News/News-Articles/Article/2658542/nro-returns-to-virginias-space-coast-with-nrol-111/

NROL-111 is NRO’s final scheduled launch for 2021. In 2022, NRO is scheduled to start the year with two launches from New Zealand in January and February, NROL-162 and NROL-199. Also in February, NROL-87 is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Three additional NRO missions are planned for later in 2022.

[maosmiraculous]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/06/15/three-nro-satellites-launched-by-minotaur-rocket-with-surplus-missile-parts/

Northrop Grumman has no more Pegasus launches in its backlog, but the Space Force and the NRO have purchased at least one more Minotaur flight to deliver another classified payload to orbit.

That mission, known as NROL-174, will use a Minotaur 4 rocket, the larger Minotaur variant. It is scheduled for launch in 2023, Eberly said. A launch site for the NROL-174 mission has not been confirmed.

Northrop Grumman’s next orbital launch is scheduled in August, when an Antares rocket will take off from Virginia with the next Cygnus cargo ship for the International Space Station.

Then the 3 additional ones in 2022 are likely NROL-107, 85, and one on DIVH.

[zubenelgenubi]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/06/15/three-nro-satellites-launched-by-minotaur-rocket-with-surplus-missile-parts/

...[T]he Space Force and the NRO have purchased at least one more Minotaur flight to deliver another classified payload to orbit.

That mission, known as NROL-174, will use a Minotaur 4 rocket, the larger Minotaur variant. It is scheduled for launch in 2023, Eberly said. A launch site for the NROL-174 mission has not been confirmed.

Could it launch on Minotaur IV from any of the following?:
MARS (Wallops) LA-0B
Spaceflight Florida, Cape Canaveral, SLC-46
Vandenberg SFB, SLC-8
Kodiak, AK, LP-1

Or does the fact that MARS was the original designated launch site preclude Vandenberg and Kodiak because, apparently, the payload is not going to a polar or retrograde orbit?

[russianhalo117]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/06/15/three-nro-satellites-launched-by-minotaur-rocket-with-surplus-missile-parts/

...[T]he Space Force and the NRO have purchased at least one more Minotaur flight to deliver another classified payload to orbit.

That mission, known as NROL-174, will use a Minotaur 4 rocket, the larger Minotaur variant. It is scheduled for launch in 2023, Eberly said. A launch site for the NROL-174 mission has not been confirmed.

Could it launch on Minotaur IV from any of the following?:
MARS (Wallops) LA-0B
Spaceflight Florida, Cape Canaveral, SLC-46
Vandenberg SFB, SLC-8
Kodiak, AK, LP-1

Or does the fact that MARS was the original designated launch site preclude Vandenberg and Kodiak because, apparently, the payload is not going to a polar or retrograde orbit?

Precludes the west coast sites. Depends upon the high energy requirements. Switching to a different motor or adding an additional one from the base MIV model depends upon spacecraft parameters and target insertion orbit requirements. Minotaur-IV/Orion-38 configuration maiden flight is an example of this in play.

[Yiosie]

The next three Minotaur launches, including this one, will be from Vandenberg.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/ng-16-update/

“We’re basically on contract for three Minotaur launches. One is a Minotaur IV, which looks like it’s going to be launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in 2023, and that’s for the Space Force,” said Eberly.

In total, there will be one Minotaur launch in 2022 and two launches in 2023. All three of these missions will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and will be flown for the U.S. Space Force.

The 2022 launch is probably the Minotaur II suborbital flight mentioned last year that was scheduled for later this year.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/15/minotaur-rocket-successfully-deploys-four-nro-satellites-in-orbit/

There’s also a mission assigned to a Minotaur 2 rocket — a suborbital Minotaur configuration — scheduled to fly from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in late 2021, according to the Space and Missile Systems Center.

Not sure what the second 2023 launch is, but it's probably not another Minotaur IV given the phrasing in Eberly's statement.

[Vahe231991]

The next three Minotaur launches, including this one, will be from Vandenberg.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/09/ng-16-update/

“We’re basically on contract for three Minotaur launches. One is a Minotaur IV, which looks like it’s going to be launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in 2023, and that’s for the Space Force,” said Eberly.

In total, there will be one Minotaur launch in 2022 and two launches in 2023. All three of these missions will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and will be flown for the U.S. Space Force.

The 2022 launch is probably the Minotaur II suborbital flight mentioned last year that was scheduled for later this year.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/07/15/minotaur-rocket-successfully-deploys-four-nro-satellites-in-orbit/

There’s also a mission assigned to a Minotaur 2 rocket — a suborbital Minotaur configuration — scheduled to fly from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in late 2021, according to the Space and Missile Systems Center.

Not sure what the second 2023 launch is, but it's probably not another Minotaur IV given the phrasing in Eberly's statement.

The Minotaur II suborbital launch was conducted last July and ended in failure while carrying out a test of the Mk.21A re-entry vehicle to be used on the Sentinel ICBM.

[GewoonLukas_]

NextSpaceflight (Updated ??)
Launch NET February 2024
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4736

[zubenelgenubi]

Any signs of this launch campaign?

Also, does anyone know/can anyone say what will be launched?  Something experimental or engineering test?

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

NextSpaceflight, updated February 13:

NROL-174
Launch Time
NET March 2024

[zubenelgenubi]

Any new news?

[russianhalo117]

Any new news?

It will become NET April and so on until the selected launcher is directed to be delivered to VSFB for the flight. Once the LVOS assembly and checkout milestones have occurred at SLC-8 the customer will work to formulate a public launch date. The converted ICBM can either follow the typical Minotaur IV mission launch campaign timeline or for launch on demand can be errected in its fully enclosed MST for undecided amount of time awaiting a launch order.

[zubenelgenubi]

As expected, given no news of a launch campaign,
NextSpaceflight; updated March 29:
Launch NET April

[zubenelgenubi]

As expected, given no news of a launch campaign by the end of April,
NextSpaceflight; updated end of month:
Launch NET May

[Salo]

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4736

NROL-174
Launch Time
NET 2024

[GewoonLukas_]

The NRO mission patch has appeared:

"I viam inveniam" translates to "I will find a way"

[GewoonLukas_]

There was an industry day help for Lane 1 in August. It includes the NRO, SDA, and USSF planned contract awards & launches.

https://sam.gov/opp/7111789df59149cd81596402c35e33d3/view

The presentation shows this as the next Minotaur launch