According to the above chart, Stage 5 burns for about a minute, but does not increase altitude nor increase velocity.
Take a look at the mission patch for Friday’s launch of #MinotaurIV carrying #ORS5 for @usairforce. Launch window opens at 11:14 pm EDT
Quote from: Danderman on 08/21/2017 04:14 amAccording to the above chart, Stage 5 burns for about a minute, but does not increase altitude nor increase velocity.It is mostly being used to reduce inclination to zero degrees - a big plane change. - Ed Kyle
Orbital ATK considered basing the launch from a Minotaur pad at Wallops Island, Virginia, but the site is too far north to reach the equatorial orbit needed on the ORS-5 mission.Another option Orbital ATK briefly considered was setting up a temporary Minotaur launch pad at the European-run spaceport in French Guiana, just north of the equator, but Cape Canaveral eventually became the best choice once engineers devised a way to add another rocket motor on top of the Minotaur 4.
Minotaur IV ORS 5 Mission Page.http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/MinotaurIV_ORS5_Mission-Page/default.aspxNote the mention of secondary payloads. - Ed Kyle
During the 10-minute coast until ignition of the fifth stage motor, the Minotaur will release two CubeSats for an undisclosed U.S. government agency, and a three-unit shoebox-sized CubeSat for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.Seattle-based Spaceflight made arrangements for the CubeSats launching on the Minotaur 4.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 08/21/2017 01:24 pmQuote from: Danderman on 08/21/2017 04:14 amAccording to the above chart, Stage 5 burns for about a minute, but does not increase altitude nor increase velocity.It is mostly being used to reduce inclination to zero degrees - a big plane change. - Ed KyleAssembly complete for Minotaur launcher at Cape CanaveralQuoteOrbital ATK considered basing the launch from a Minotaur pad at Wallops Island, Virginia, but the site is too far north to reach the equatorial orbit needed on the ORS-5 mission.Another option Orbital ATK briefly considered was setting up a temporary Minotaur launch pad at the European-run spaceport in French Guiana, just north of the equator, but Cape Canaveral eventually became the best choice once engineers devised a way to add another rocket motor on top of the Minotaur 4.Why not a Minotaur or Pegasus launch from Kwajelein, to acheive low equatorial earth orbit (LEEO)? The payload mass seems within the capability of Pegasus.I assume, but seek confirmation:Would a Pegasus air-launch from Kwajalein (9 deg N latitude),OR a Minotaur 4, no 5th stage, launch from a temporary pad on Kwajalein,be more expensive than the chosen launch vehicle/configuration/location?
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 08/21/2017 05:54 pm<snip>Why not a Minotaur or Pegasus launch from Kwajelein, to acheive low equatorial earth orbit (LEEO)? The payload mass seems within the capability of Pegasus.I assume, but seek confirmation:Would a Pegasus air-launch from Kwajalein (9 deg N latitude),OR a Minotaur 4, no 5th stage, launch from a temporary pad on Kwajalein,be more expensive than the chosen launch vehicle/configuration/location?As the first three stages of a Minotaur-IV are government assets, this might drop the price of a M-IV so far, that this option became viable.
<snip>Why not a Minotaur or Pegasus launch from Kwajelein, to acheive low equatorial earth orbit (LEEO)? The payload mass seems within the capability of Pegasus.I assume, but seek confirmation:Would a Pegasus air-launch from Kwajalein (9 deg N latitude),OR a Minotaur 4, no 5th stage, launch from a temporary pad on Kwajalein,be more expensive than the chosen launch vehicle/configuration/location?
Quote from: Star One on 07/10/2015 06:27 amI wonder what decided them on a Minotaur 4 over say Pegasus XL.$23M is cheaper than a Pegasus.
I wonder what decided them on a Minotaur 4 over say Pegasus XL.
I wonder when Orbital ATK will release a map that shows the states that might see the ORS-5 launch.
One more question, if one of our NSF experts is free to answer:Where has the ORS-5 satellite been processed for launch?
Orbital ATK engineers are working final preparations for Friday’s #MinotaurIV launch of #ORS5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Terrific to see SLC 46 back in action. This will be the fourth launch center, to host a Minotaur 4/5 launch. Not many launch vehicles can make that claim. (R-7/Soyuz. Pegasus. Any others?)
QuoteOrbital ATK engineers are working final preparations for Friday’s #MinotaurIV launch of #ORS5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Stationhttps://twitter.com/orbitalatk/status/899806958336835585
Several of these questions were discussed a page or two earlier in this thread. Quote from: Jim on 07/10/2015 02:23 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/10/2015 06:27 amI wonder what decided them on a Minotaur 4 over say Pegasus XL.$23M is cheaper than a Pegasus.
U.S. Air Force’s ORS-5 Satellite to Launch on Minotaur 4WASHINGTON – Orbital ATK has won a $23.6 million contract to launch a small space-surveillance satellite for the U.S. Air Force’s Operationally Responsive Space Office aboard a Minotaur 4 rocket in 2017.<snip>
November 20, 2014NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Ionospheric Connection Explorer NASA has selected Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Virginia, to provide launch services for the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission.<snip>The total cost for NASA to launch ICON under this new firm-fixed price launch services task order is approximately $56.3 million. This includes spacecraft processing, payload integration, tracking, data and telemetry and other launch support requirements.<snip>
Quote from: Sam Ho on 08/21/2017 10:41 pmSeveral of these questions were discussed a page or two earlier in this thread. Quote from: Jim on 07/10/2015 02:23 pmQuote from: Star One on 07/10/2015 06:27 amI wonder what decided them on a Minotaur 4 over say Pegasus XL.$23M is cheaper than a Pegasus. Thanks--I somehow missed that.And, reviewing the OP of this thread:Quote from: jacqmans on 07/10/2015 06:07 amU.S. Air Force’s ORS-5 Satellite to Launch on Minotaur 4WASHINGTON – Orbital ATK has won a $23.6 million contract to launch a small space-surveillance satellite for the U.S. Air Force’s Operationally Responsive Space Office aboard a Minotaur 4 rocket in 2017.<snip>Comparing this price point to the most recent launch contract for Pegasus into an low earth, 27 deg. inclination orbit, from Kwajalein:Quote from: Comga on 11/20/2014 08:20 pmNovember 20, 2014NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Ionospheric Connection Explorer NASA has selected Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Virginia, to provide launch services for the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission.<snip>The total cost for NASA to launch ICON under this new firm-fixed price launch services task order is approximately $56.3 million. This includes spacecraft processing, payload integration, tracking, data and telemetry and other launch support requirements.<snip>