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#80
by
Star One
on 15 Jul, 2020 14:19
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Archived launch video:
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#81
by
Svetoslav
on 15 Jul, 2020 14:38
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#82
by
SpaceFinnOriginal
on 15 Jul, 2020 14:41
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Good guys - launched from the first try.
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#83
by
zubenelgenubi
on 15 Jul, 2020 14:43
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Re: NOTAM drop zones
[NOTAM]
In order away from Wallops: 1st stage, 2nd stage, fairing, 3rd stage (in South Atlantic)?
(Reference: page 17 in the User's Guide)
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#84
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Jul, 2020 14:46
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#85
by
edkyle99
on 15 Jul, 2020 15:31
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Re: NOTAM drop zones
[NOTAM]
In order away from Wallops: 1st stage, 2nd stage, fairing, 3rd stage (in South Atlantic)?
(Reference: page 17 in the User's Guide)
That'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.
- Ed Kyle
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#86
by
ianservin
on 15 Jul, 2020 17:59
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#87
by
jacqmans
on 15 Jul, 2020 18:22
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Northrop Grumman Successfully Launches Minotaur IV Rocket Carrying Satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office
Minotaur product line boosts flawless record to 27 missions
WALLOPS, Va. – July 15, 2020 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully launched its Minotaur IV space launch vehicle and placed a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) spacecraft into orbit at 9:46 a.m. EDT on July 15. The Minotaur IV was launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0B at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
“This mission marks the 27th consecutive successful launch for the company’s Minotaur product line which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year,” said Kurt Eberly, director, launch vehicles, Northrop Grumman. “Minotaur’s record of success along with its ability to responsively launch from multiple spaceports continues to be a valuable asset for our customers.”
The NROL-129 launch (L-129) was the seventh Minotaur IV flight. The Minotaur IV is capable of launching payloads of up to 4,000 pounds (or 1,800 kilograms) to low earth orbit. This mission’s Minotaur IV configuration included three decommissioned Peacekeeper stages and a Northrop Grumman manufactured Orion 38 solid fuel upper stage. The Minotaur rockets are manufactured at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Chandler, Arizona; Vandenberg, California; and Clearfield and Magna, Utah.
The Minotaur family of launch vehicles is based on government-furnished Peacekeeper and Minuteman rocket motors that Northrop Grumman has integrated with modern avionics and other subsystems to produce a cost-effective, responsive launcher based on flight-proven hardware. Minotaur rockets have launched from ranges in Alaska, California, Florida and Virginia.
The vehicle used to launch the L-129 mission was procured under the OSP-3 contract administered by the U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise Small Launch and Targets Division at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Minotaur vehicles are currently available to customers under the OSP-4 contract.
Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.
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#88
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 15 Jul, 2020 19:56
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#89
by
edkyle99
on 15 Jul, 2020 20:16
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Northrop Grumman photo.
- Ed Kyle
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#90
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 15 Jul, 2020 23:20
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Congratulations to NGIS and NRO for the successful launch!
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#91
by
sferrin
on 16 Jul, 2020 02:36
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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).
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#92
by
Zed_Noir
on 16 Jul, 2020 12:03
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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.
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#93
by
intelati
on 16 Jul, 2020 15:34
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#94
by
edkyle99
on 16 Jul, 2020 16:16
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2.45 T/W ratio at launch, or thereabouts. Hello, and goodbye! Mach 1 through 4 callouts were at about T+17.5, 30, 42, and 50 seconds, respectively. Remember also that PK originally was a cold launch missile that popped out of its silo to ignite while hanging mid-air.
- Ed Kyle
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#95
by
edkyle99
on 16 Jul, 2020 17:57
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#96
by
Targeteer
on 17 Jul, 2020 00:53
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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
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#97
by
edkyle99
on 17 Jul, 2020 01:35
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I like amateur videos like this one that really show the initial acceleration.
- Ed Kyle
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#98
by
edkyle99
on 17 Jul, 2020 20:10
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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
Now they've added the upper stage.
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
- Ed Kyle
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#99
by
Star One
on 18 Jul, 2020 06:13
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New video by Scott Manley with much focus on the Minotaur:
N of the missile. Seeing the rocket just take off like that was shocking.
N of the missile. Seeing the rocket just take off like that was shocking.