Minotaur SLV - NFIRE
| Launch Date: |
April 24, 2007 |
| Launch Site: |
Wallops Island, VA |
| Launch Vehicle: |
Minotaur I |
| Mission Customer: |
U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) |
 Early in the morning on April 24, 2007, Orbital’s Minotaur I rocket launched the Near Field Infrared Experiment from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) launch site at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in Virginia.
The launch marked the seventh launch of the Minotaur I space launch vehicle and the second consecutive Minotaur I mission to originate from Wallops Island. Previously, a Minotaur I boosted the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) TacSat-2 experimental microsatellite into low earth orbit in the inaugural launch from MARS in December 2006. The TacSat-2 mission also demonstrated the ability of the Minotaur I vehicle to support Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) rapid launch requirements.
After the NFIRE spacecraft is operational, Orbital will conduct two additional launches of the Minotaur II target launch vehicle that will be observed by the experimental payloads on the NFIRE satellite.
In addition to these launches, the fourth Minotaur mission of the year is scheduled for December 2007 to boost the TacSat-3 spacecraft into orbit in another mission originating from the MARS facility.
The rockets that will launch TacSat-2 and -3 microsatellites are the seventh and eighth Minotaur I space launch vehicles to be ordered by the USAF. There have been a total of twelve launches – all successful - of the Minotaur family of launch vehicle consisting of six each of the Minotaur I and Minotaur II configurations. Including the NFIRE Minotaur I, there are eight additional Minotaur family vehicles currently ordered.
About the Minotaur Family of Launchers
 Minotaur launchers are provided under the U.S. Air Force Orbital/Suborbital Program-2 (OSP-2) contract and are derived from U.S. Government-supplied Minuteman and Peacekeeper rocket motors. The integrated launch service is provided by the Rocket Systems Launch Program under the USAF. Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) Space Development and Test Wing (SDTW) at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
The space launch configurations combine commercial rocket motors, avionics and other elements with the government-supplied stages to create responsive, reliable and low-cost launch systems for U.S. government payloads. The Minotaur I space launch vehicle (SLV) configuration to be used in the NFIRE launch includes Minuteman rocket motors that serve as the vehicle's first and second stages, efficiently reusing motors that have been previously decommissioned. Its third and fourth stages and structures are common with Orbital's highly reliable Pegasus XL rocket. The Minotaur II target launch vehicle (TLV) utilizes residual Minuteman II boosters coupled with avionics standardized across the Minotaur product line. The Minotaur family is rounded out by the Minotaur III, IV and V target and space launch vehicles that utilize residual Peacekeeper assets.
For more information:
TacSat-2/Minotaur Images
Minotaur Launch Images
Minotaur I Fact Sheet
General Dynamics NFIRE Web Page
|