| Minotaur II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Function: | Suborbital launch system | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer: | Orbital Sciences (original); Northrop Grumman (current) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages: | 2 or 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sites: | Vandenberg LF-06 Vandenberg TP-01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First: | 28 May 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last: | 7 July 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launches: | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Success: | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stagedata: |
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Minotaur II rockets consist of the M55A1 first stage and SR19AJ1 second stage of a decommissioned Minuteman missile. The third stage varies depending on the configuration required for the payload: a Minuteman II M57A1 stage is used on the baseline configuration, whilst the Minotaur II+ uses an SR-73-AJ. The Minotaur II Lite is a two-stage configuration, without a third stage. A heavy configuration is also available, with an Orion 50XL third stage, as used on the Minotaur I. The baseline configuration can propel a payload downrange, whilst the heavy configuration can place onto an 8000km (5,000miles) trajectory.
Nine Minotaur II rockets have been launched as of July 2022, with six flights using the baseline configuration and three using the Minotaur II+ configuration. Launches are conducted from Launch Facility 06 (LF-06) and Test Pad 01 (TP-01).
| Flight No. | Date (UTC) | Rocket | Payload | Launch pad | Trajectory | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 28, 200020:00 | Minotaur II | OSP-TLV Missile Defense Technology Demonstrator | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | ||
| 2 | December 12, 2001 | Minotaur II | IFT-7 target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | ||
| 3 | March 16, 200202:11 | Minotaur II | TLV-1 IFT-8 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | ||
| 4 | October 15, 200202:01 | Minotaur II | TLV-3 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | ||
| 5 | December 11, 2002 08:26 | Minotaur II | TLV-4 GMDS target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | ||
| 6 | March 20, 200704:27 | Minotaur II | TLV-5 FTX-02 SBR target mission | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | ||
| 7 | August 23, 200708:30 | Minotaur II+ | TLV-7 Mission 2a sensor target for NFIRE satellite | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | ||
| 8 | September 24, 200806:57 | Minotaur II+ | TLV-8 Mission 2b sensor target for NFIRE satellite | Vandenberg LF-06 | Suborbital | ||
| 9 | July 7, 202206:01[1] | Minotaur II+ | Mk21A reentry vehicle test[2] | Vandenberg TP-01 | Suborbital |