In response to questions from Spaceflight Now, the Air Force confirmed plans for another Minotaur launch for the NRO — a mission designated NROL-129 — in the fall of this year.
The NROL-129 mission will launch aboard a Minotaur 4 rocket...
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In a written statement, Galbreath said the Air Force awarded the NROL-129 launch contract in December 2017 to Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, then known as Orbital ATK. The NROL-129 launch order is valued at $38 million...<snip>
Launch services...were arranged through the Air Force’s Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 contract.
Please explain in the area below why an STA is necessary:
This FCC STA is required in support of the L-129 Mission. The Mission Requirements Document (MRD) requires this effort in support of the "A.8" over the horizon telemetry enhancement to the Minotaur IV Launch Vehicle. This enhancement requires the utilization of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), TDRS-6 in order to satisfy the mission requirements. TDRS-3 and TDRS-12 may also be used as required.
NRO tweet probably about this mission, stating "late 2019". https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1149417529217081344
I would like to attend this launch, does Wallops have media accreditation for NROL Minotaur launches?Wallops hasn't hosted an NRO launch before. They've done accreditation for USAF launch though. I would probably expect they'll do it, but expect much less access than is given for Antares launches
https://spacenews.com/air-force-to-schedule-nine-small-launch-missions-in-2020/QuoteA National Reconnaissance mission, NROL-129, is scheduled to fly sometime in the spring on a Northrop Grumman Minotaur 4 launch vehicle from Wallops Island, Virginia.
An Air Force Research Lab experimental payload will fly in the spring aboard a Rocket Lab Electron vehicle from the company’s new launch pad at Wallops Island. The STP-27RM Space Test Program mission is an experimental satellite called Monolith that will be used for space weather research.
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Another NRO mission, NROL-111, will launch in late 2020 from Wallops Island aboard a Northrop Grumman Minotaur 1 vehicle.
Minotaur/NROL-129 delayed without new date
https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
First Minotaur launches at Wallops since 2013, which also had two late year launches.That would be Minotaur-III (TLV) and Minotaur-IV-Lite (R&D, Sounding Rocket). The Minotaur-IV Lite version uses the base Minotaur-III vehicle minus the Stage-4 GFE PBM or Super HAPS but at least for the flights flown uses the Minotaur-IV motor burn profile as if it had 4+ stages.
If all five launches (Antares x2, Minotaur x2, Electron x1) take place this year, it will also be the most orbital launches from Wallops in a single year. 1964 saw Wallops launch 6 Scout rockets, but 3 of those were suborbital.
Minotaur IV is sometimes used as a suborbital rocket, but all instances of that in the past have been from Vandenberg.
When do we expect stacking to occur? Would it be visible by the public?
Any visible launch campaign activity yet?Minotaur stages are shipped horizontally and stacked vertically on the launch mount. The sole exception are the common stages used by Minotaur-C and Pegasus, which are integrated horizontally as a combined stack on a processing stand then rolled as one unit onto its transport trailer and for Minotaur-C is lifted as one and placed on either the 92 inch Peacekeeper GFE or GFE derived Castor-120/120XL stage 0 booster. All Minotaur GFE stages and hardware use GFE transporters which raise the stages vertically but instead of lowering them into a silo, bunker or mobile TEL launch tube are craned from the transporters onto the missions launch mount. Commercial stage equivalents use non GFE transportation. Upon using up all GFE those Minotaur versions will switch to NG's commercial equivalents which are being co-developed with the Large Class Stage project (LCS-I, II, III motors and PBS developed for the all 92 inch GBSD version before granting ARH, Inc a concession to avoid political and legal actions on the GBSD award) with Castor-120XL and Castor-30XL being two of them.
Will the Minotaur be horizontally integrated inside a processing facility?
We’re excited to announce that our next mission #NROL129 will be launching NET 15 July from @NASA_Wallops in Virginia aboard a @northropgrumman #MinotaurIV rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad 0B.
#NROL129 will be NRO’s first dedicated launch from the Virginia Space Coast and the first Minotaur mission from Wallops since 2013.
Things are moving along for #NROL129! This will be the NRO's 3rd launch of 2020 & carries four of the agency’s payloads. @NASA_Wallops @northropgrumman. @VCSFA_MARS @AF_SMC
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility plans to provide a live video webcast of the Minotaur 4’s liftoff July 15, but officials are not opening the NASA Visitor Center at Wallops for launch viewing or hosting media representatives to cover the launch in person. NASA cited the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for the closure.***
QuoteThings are moving along for #NROL129! This will be the NRO's 3rd launch of 2020 & carries four of the agency’s payloads.
NROL-129 Press Kit: https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/news/Press%20Kit_Launch_NROL-129.pdf?ver=2020-07-07-134345-553 (https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/news/Press%20Kit_Launch_NROL-129.pdf?ver=2020-07-07-134345-553)
A question about public viewing:Public viewing sites will be monitored for crowd size. County and state officials have the right to discourage gatherings for viewing but I have not yet found anything prohibiting those sites.
Pad 0B is very close to the Antares Pad 0A, but slightly south of it. Also, we're dealing with a different rocket, using different types and amounts of fuel.
So do we think that the same exclusion zone applies for public viewing as with Antares? In particular, I am wondering if Arbuckle Neck Road will be closed but the Old Ferry Dock open. Thoughts?
Check out these awesome photos of #NROL129! We're set to launch aboard a @northropgrumman #MinotaurIV rocket tomorrow from @NASA_Wallops
Press kit for the classified #NROL129 mission launching tomorrow morning on a @northropgrumman #MinotaurIV from #MARS (ok, @NASA_Wallops).
Press Kit: nro.gov/Portals/65/doc…
The mobile gantry has moved back and I have a clear view of the Minotaur 4 rocket ahead of NROL-129.
Is this launch on You Tube? Or anywhere on TV?
I'm going to guess that the Orion 38 fourth stage motor does not burn until T+45 minutes to T+1 hour or so.
Nice to see a "real" rocket launch. Woof, and outta here!
- Ed Kyle
[NOTAM]In order away from Wallops: 1st stage, 2nd stage, fairing, 3rd stage (in South Atlantic)?
Re: NOTAM drop zonesThat's my assumption. Also note the nominal WFF orbit inclination listed at 43 degrees in the Guide, though we have nothing official about this launch. The Orion 38 fourth stage motor is mounted in a Guidance and Control Assembly, which also supports avionics and a cold gas thruster system for 3-axis control during coast, burn, and spacecraft separation, etc. The GCA/Orion 38 unit may do a bit of orbit lowering after spacecraft separation, but probably can't directly deorbit, but I'm guessing.[NOTAM]In order away from Wallops: 1st stage, 2nd stage, fairing, 3rd stage (in South Atlantic)?
(Reference: page 17 in the User's Guide)
My 2 favorite pics from today's @NatReconOfc Minotaur IV launch with the first @SpaceForceDoD mission from @NASA_Wallops
The #MinotaurIV breaking the sound barrier and it sitting just as the sun started rising
Was a little surprised at the astonishment of the guys doing the commentary at the Minotaur's speed. It's basically a Peacekeeper ICBM (for all intents and purposes). It was designed to get out of Dodge ASAP, both because nukes could be going off any second and to give an enemy as short of time as possible to view it under boost. IIRC the ICBMs 3 stages were designed to be burned out in 2-1/2 minutes. That's why there is no pause between staging (the ICBM wouldn't have paused between the 2nd and 3rd stage).
Was a little surprised at the astonishment of the guys doing the commentary at the Minotaur's speed. It's basically a Peacekeeper ICBM (for all intents and purposes). It was designed to get out of Dodge ASAP, both because nukes could be going off any second and to give an enemy as short of time as possible to view it under boost. IIRC the ICBMs 3 stages were designed to be burned out in 2-1/2 minutes. That's why there is no pause between staging (the ICBM wouldn't have paused between the 2nd and 3rd stage).
The NSF webcast commentary guys are not familiar with the flight characteristics of solid fueled strategic ballistic missiles and why those characteristics are needed. They are civilians. ;)
45873 USA 305 2020-046A PAYLOAD USNow they've added the upper stage.
45874 USA 306 2020-046B PAYLOAD US
45875 USA 307 2020-046C PAYLOAD US
45876 USA 308 2020-046D PAYLOAD US
45873 USA 305 2020-046A PAYLOAD US
45874 USA 306 2020-046B PAYLOAD US
45875 USA 307 2020-046C PAYLOAD US
45876 USA 308 2020-046D PAYLOAD US
45877 MINOTAUR 4 R/B 2020-046E ROCKET BODY US