Orbital Minotaur-C User Manual

LAUNCH

VEHICLE

Small-Class

Minotaur-C

Ground-Launched Space Launch Vehicle

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Overview

The Minotaur-C launch vehicle provides a cost-effective and reliable launch capability for satellites

weighing up to 3,500 pounds (1,590 kilograms). Minotaur-C is currently in production to support

U.S. Government and commercial customers. The versatility and exibility of the Minotaur-C family of

vehicles provides the means to access space for a variety of payloads.

System Features

• Incorporates all solid propulsion stages and proven technologies to meet mission requirements

• Provides substantial payload performance into a variety of low inclination low-Earth orbit (LEO), polar

LEO, sun-synchronous LEO, geotransfer and interplanetary orbits

• Designed for easy transportability, rapid set-up and launch from austere launch sites

• Streamlined vehicle/payload integration and testing through simplied avionics interfaces and ofine

payload encapsulation

• Compatible with the U.S. Air Force Western Range (WR), Eastern Range (ER), NASA’s Wallops Flight

Facility, Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC) and Reagan Test Site (RTS)

• Flight-proven heritage with single and multiple payloads

Minotaur-C incorporates advanced

structural and avionics technology

proven on Pegasus® and other

operational launch systems

The Minotaur-C launch vehicle is a ground­launched variant of Orbital’s highly successful

air-launched space booster.

Pegasus

Minotaur-C

C3 0 (km

/sec2)

425 kg (940 lb)

3 2 1 0

All major Minotaur-C congurations (SSLV, Standard

and XL) have launched.

Vehicle Statistics

• Weight: 77,000 kg (170,000 lb.)

• Height: 30 to 32 m (97 to 104 ft)

Minotaur-C Conguration Numbering

Vehicle Configuration Fairing

SSLV Minotaur-C

1 -

(Peace-keeper Stage 0,
Std Stages 1, 2)
Standard Minotaur-C

2 -

(Castor 120 Stage 0,
Std Stages 1, 2)
Minotaur-C XL

3 -

(Castor 120 Stage 0,
XL Stages 1, 2)

1 ­2 -

Size

63"
92"

Stage 3

Motor

Orion-38

1 -

STAR-37

3 -

Stage 4

Motor

0 ­3 -

<None>
STAR-37

Flexible Payload Fairing Options

Two ight-proven fairings and two dual payload

attach ttings are offered to provide cost-effective

access to space for single and multiple payloads.

Standard Payload Accommodations

• Te mperature, humidity control

• Class 8 (100,000) cleanliness

Enhanced Accommodations

• Class 7 (10,000) cleanliness

• Nitrogen purge

Minotaur-C Vehicle Congurations

Typical Performance

400 km @ 28.5°
400 km @ Sun-Synchronous

Typical Performance

C3 -10 (km

3,934

154.9

2

2

Payload

Envelope

Payload

Envelope

1,328

ø

52.3

/sec2)

5,710

224.8

Envelope

ø

3110 Minotaur-C XL 3210 Minotaur-C XL

1,458 kg (3,214 lb)
1,054 kg (2,324 lb)

3113 Minotaur-C XL

530 kg (1,170 lb)

Payload

Primary
Payload

Envelope

1,979

77.9

Available

Secondary

P/L Volume

Primary
Payload

Envelope

Available

Secondary

P/L Volume

1,278 kg (2,814 lb)
912 kg (2,008 lb)

1,328

ø

52.3

Non-Motor

2,400

94.5

Portion

of 5th Stage

(Payload +

Adapter, Etc)

Flight-Proven Dual Payload
Accommodations

Key Contacts

John Brunschwyler,
Minotaur-C Program Manager

[phone]

[e-mail]

Orbital Sciences Corporation

45101 Warp Drive

©2014 Orbital Sciences Corporation FS003_02_2998

•

Dulles, Virginia 20166

63" (1.6m)

Payload Fairing

Dimensions

mm

in

Warren Frick,
Advanced Projects Program Manager

[phone]

[e-mail]

•

www.orbital.com

92" (2.3m)

Payload Fairing

63" Fairing with
50" Aft Payload

Capsule

92" Fairing with

63" Dual Payload

Attach Fitting

3113