Minotaur III

The Minotaur III, also known as OSP-2 Target Launch Vehicle, Peacekeeper TLV or OSP-2 TLV is an American rocket derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile. It is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and is used for long range suborbital launches with heavy payloads.

Minotaur III
FunctionHeavy suborbital launch system
ManufacturerOrbital Sciences
Country of originUnited States
Size
StagesFour
Capacity
Payload to 5000km S/O
Mass3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb)
Launch history
StatusDevelopment
Launch sitesVandenberg
Kodiak
First stage – SR-118
Engines1 Solid
Thrust1,607 kilonewtons (361,000 lbf)
Burn time83 seconds
FuelSolid
Second stage – SR-119
Engines1 Solid
Thrust1,365 kilonewtons (307,000 lbf)
Burn time54 seconds
FuelSolid
Third stage – SR-120
Engines1 Solid
Thrust329 kilonewtons (74,000 lbf)
Burn time62 seconds
FuelSolid
Fourth stage – Super-HAPS
Engines12 MR-107K
FuelHydrazine

Minotaur III rockets consist of four stages; the SR-118 first stage, SR-119 second stage and SR-120 third stage of a decommissioned Peacekeeper missile, with a Super-HAPS fourth stage, derived from the HAPS stage used on Pegasus and Minotaur I rockets. The Minotaur III is capable of launching a 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) payload 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi) downrange on a suborbital trajectory.

Minotaur III launches will be conducted from Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Kodiak Launch Complex.

References
  • "Fact Sheet" (PDF). Minotaur III. Orbital Sciences Corporation. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  • Wade, Mark. "Minotaur". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3 (OSP-2 Peacekeepr TLV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-05-06.


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