Minotaur

Northrop Grumman integrates, tests and provides space launch services for the Minotaur family of rockets.

A rocket on a launch pad in front of a blue, light cloudy sky
A rocket streak from a rocket launching into Space in front of dark cloudy sky

Minotaur Rocket

Under the U.S. Air Force Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3) contract, Northrop Grumman integrates, tests and provides space launch services for the Minotaur I, IV, V, VI and C family of rockets.

Employing a combination of U.S. government-supplied rocket motors and the company's proven commercial launch technologies, the Minotaur rocket family provides low-cost and reliable access to space for government-sponsored payloads. To date, our Minotaur rockets have completed 28 missions out of every major U.S. spaceport, demonstrating the vehicle's unique versatility and reliability.

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A rocket in front of a night sky launching from launch pad in to Space

Minotaur I

Minotaur I is a four-stage solid fuel space launch vehicle utilizing Minuteman rocket motors for its first and second stages, reusing motors that have been decommissioned as a result of arms reduction treaties. The Minotaur's third and fourth stages, structures, and payload fairing are common with our highly reliable Pegasus XL rocket and feature flight proven avionics systems. Minotaur I is capable of launching payloads up to 580 kg (1,278 lbs) into low Earth Orbit. To date, Minotaur I has conducted 11 missions, delivering 62 satellites into orbit.

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A rocket streak across the sky in New York City in front of the empire state building

Minotaur IV, V, and VI

The Minotaur IV, V, and VI space launch vehicles leverage the flight-proven heritage of the Minotaur I, Pegasus, and Taurus space launch vehicles to provide an extremely cost-effective and capable space launch solution. Minotaur IV, which utilizes three government-furnished solid rocket motors from decommissioned Peacekeeper ICBMs and a commercial solid rocket upper stage, is capable of launching payloads up to 1,730 kg (3,814 lb.) to low Earth orbit. Minotaur V is an evolutionary version of Minotaur IV incorporating common structures with relatively minor changes to add a fifth stage. Minotaur V provides an extremely cost-effective capability to launch small spacecraft into high energy trajectories for geosynchronous Earth orbit and lunar missions. Minotaur VI builds on the flight-proven Minotaur IV vehicle adding a second Peacekeeper lower stage to create a five stage rocket capable of boosting payloads up to 3,100 kg (6,900 lb.) to low Earth orbit.

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Minotaur News

A rocket blasting off from launch pad

Northrop Grumman’s Minotaur 1 rocket launches three classified NRO payloads

Minotaur IV Rocket launch

Northrop Grumman Successfully Launches Minotaur IV Rocket Carrying Satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office

Minotaur-C rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base

Orbital ATK Successfully Launches Minotaur C Rocket Carrying 10 Spacecraft to Orbit for Planet

Orbital ATK Successfully Launches Minotaur IV Rocket Carrying ORS-5 Satellite for the U.S. Air Force

Minotaur IV ORS-5 Launch

Minotaur rocket to lift off with satellite built by high school students

Minotaur rocket successfully deploys four NRO satellites in orbit

Minotaur Videos

NRO L-111 Launch

More on Minotaur

Minotaur rocket ready to launch four payloads for U.S. spy satellite agency

Northrop Grumman readies for debut Minotaur IV launch from MARS

US Air Force Prepping for Historic Minotaur IV Rocket Launch in July (Photos)

Watch a Minotaur (Rocket) Launch to Space This Halloween!

Minotaur rocket roars from Cape Canaveral

Ten commercial Earth-observing satellites launched aboard Minotaur-C rocket