Spaceflight Now Home



The Mission




Rocket: Minotaur 1
Payload: TacSat 2 and GeneSat 1
Date: Dec. 11, 2006
Window: 7-10 a.m. EST (1200-1500 GMT)
Site: Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

Our launch story

Preview story

Launch events timeline

Ground track map

Earlier Minotaur coverage




Spaceflight Now +



Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers.

STS-104: ISS airlock
Space shuttle Atlantis' STS-104 mission in July 2001 delivered the $164 million Joint Airlock to the International Space Station. The module, named Quest, gave the outpost a new doorway for American and Russian spacewalks. The five Atlantis astronauts narrate the highlights of their mission in this post-flight film.

 Full Coverage

Astronaut practice
The space shuttle Discovery astronauts visit Kennedy Space Center for a practice countdown and emergency training drills. Watch some highlights from the activities.

 Full Coverage

GPS 2R-16 launch
The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Nov. 17 on another mission to replenish the satellite constellation for the Global Positioning System.

 Full Coverage

Discovery on the pad
The space shuttle Discovery is rolled to pad 39B for the STS-116 launch to the space station.

 Full Coverage

Become a subscriber
More video



NewsAlert



Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop.

Enter your e-mail address:

Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.



Minotaur rocket makes sunrise ascent from Virginia
Posted: December 16, 2006

The Orbital Sciences Minotaur 1 rocket launches at 7 a.m. from Virginia's Wallops Island carrying the Air Force's TacSat 2 and NASA's GeneSat 1 spacecraft.

Photo credit: Ben Cooper/Spaceflight Now




Credit: Ben Cooper/Spaceflight Now
 

NEXT PHOTOS -->

Ares patch
The Ares Project will develop two new rockets to launch astronauts back to the Moon under NASA's Vision for Exploration. The Ares 1 will employ a single space shuttle solid rocket booster to loft the Orion crew capsule. The gigantic Ares 5 will haul the equipment and cargo needed for such lunar voyages. This is the Ares emblem.
 U.S. STORE




Apollo patches
The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price.
 U.S. STORE

Columbus mission patch
The official astronaut embroidered patch of Atlantis' STS-122 mission that launched the Columbus science lab in February is available to U.S. customers from our store.
 U.S. STORE

The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD
This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD
This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo 1 DVD
This tribute DVD features over 4.5 hours of material about the Apollo 1 tragedy and the crewmembers lost in the pad accident.
 Choose your store:
U.S.

Freedom 7 DVD

In May 1961 the United States launched astronaut Alan Shepard on a 15-minute suborbital flight to begin America's manned spaceflight program. This DVD contains over 2 1/2 hours of rare material on the flight of Freedom 7.
 Choose your store:
U.S.


X-15 DVD set

The X-15 rocket plane pushed the boundaries of aerospace with trips out to mach 6.7 and altitudes of over 350,000 feet. This 3 DVD collection contains over 10 hours of material, the largest ever assembled and will allow you to experience the proud legacy of the X-15.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide


INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE

© 2008 Pole Star Publications Ltd