Session
Technical Session III: Launch & Propulsion Systems
Abstract
The Minotaur family of launch vehicles has been proven to provide reliable, cost-effective, and responsive launch of U.S. Government-sponsored payloads for both space launch and suborbital applications. Since the initial mission of the Minotaur I space launch vehicle (SLV) in January 2000, thirteen Minotaur-family vehicles have successfully launched, including seven space launches and six suborbital targets. This heritage of success is now being extended to the Minotaur V SLV to facilitate high energy trajectories for small spacecraft, including supporting low-cost lunar exploration missions for a total recurring launch service cost of less than ~$30 million. Minotaur V is a 5-stage evolutionary version of the Minotaur IV SLV, adding the propulsive energy needed to support payloads up to 440 kg to Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI), 678 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and comparable performance to other high energy trajectories. The Minotaur V design leverages the flight proven heritage of the Minotaur family of launch vehicles, as well as the full spectrum of Orbital’s launch vehicle experience. In particular, state-of-the-art avionics and object-oriented flight software are standardized across multiple programs, using modular designs that are readily adaptable to specific vehicle and/or mission requirements. The fourth and fifth stages are commercial solid rocket motors selected based on their extensive flight history and performance. The Minotaur V avionics, structures, and fairing are shared with the Minotaur IV SLV, requiring minimal new development - and only about $10M in total non-recurring effort (NRE) - to create the five stage configuration
Presentation Slides
Minotaur V Space Launch Vehicle for Small, Cost-Effective Moon Exploration Missions
The Minotaur family of launch vehicles has been proven to provide reliable, cost-effective, and responsive launch of U.S. Government-sponsored payloads for both space launch and suborbital applications. Since the initial mission of the Minotaur I space launch vehicle (SLV) in January 2000, thirteen Minotaur-family vehicles have successfully launched, including seven space launches and six suborbital targets. This heritage of success is now being extended to the Minotaur V SLV to facilitate high energy trajectories for small spacecraft, including supporting low-cost lunar exploration missions for a total recurring launch service cost of less than ~$30 million. Minotaur V is a 5-stage evolutionary version of the Minotaur IV SLV, adding the propulsive energy needed to support payloads up to 440 kg to Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI), 678 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and comparable performance to other high energy trajectories. The Minotaur V design leverages the flight proven heritage of the Minotaur family of launch vehicles, as well as the full spectrum of Orbital’s launch vehicle experience. In particular, state-of-the-art avionics and object-oriented flight software are standardized across multiple programs, using modular designs that are readily adaptable to specific vehicle and/or mission requirements. The fourth and fifth stages are commercial solid rocket motors selected based on their extensive flight history and performance. The Minotaur V avionics, structures, and fairing are shared with the Minotaur IV SLV, requiring minimal new development - and only about $10M in total non-recurring effort (NRE) - to create the five stage configuration
