September 28, 2023
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Orion 38

Mission Reports

Photos: Minotaur rocket vaults into orbit from Virginia

July 17, 2020 Stephen Clark

Riding a half-million pounds of thrust, a Minotaur 4 rocket fired off a launch pad in Virginia, surpassed the speed of sound in less than 20 seconds, and vaulted into orbit Wednesday with four classified payloads for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Mission Reports

Minotaur rocket successfully deploys four NRO satellites in orbit

July 15, 2020 Stephen Clark

A solid-fueled Northrop Grumman Minotaur 4 rocket vaulted into orbit Wednesday from Virginia’s Eastern Shore and deployed four top secret spacecraft for the U.S. government’s spy satellite agency, extending the program’s success record ahead of three more Minotaur missions planned in 2021.

Mission Reports

Photos: Minotaur 4 rocket ready for launch from Virginia

July 14, 2020 Stephen Clark

A 78-foot-tall Minotaur 4 rocket is poised for liftoff Wednesday from Virginia’s Eastern Shore carrying four top secret payloads into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Mission Reports

Live coverage: Minotaur 4 rocket launches from Virginia

July 14, 2020 Stephen Clark

A solid-fueled Minotaur 4 rocket lifted off from Wallops Island, Virginia at 9:46 a.m. EDT (1346 GMT) Wednesday. The four-stage rocket, comprised of retired Peacekeeper missile parts, launched on a mission to deliver four classified payloads into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Mission Reports

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

July 14, 2020 Stephen Clark

Four clandestine payloads for the National Reconnaissance Office are awaiting liftoff Wednesday from Wallops Island, Virginia, on a Minotaur 4 rocket powered by Cold War-era missile stages stored for more than 30 years until their conversion into a satellite launcher.

Mission Reports

Top secret NRO payload installed on Minotaur rocket for launch from Virginia

July 4, 2020 Stephen Clark

Crews working on Virginia’s Eastern Shore this week raised a top secret payload for the National Reconnaissance Office — the U.S. government’s spy satellite agency — atop a solid-fueled Minotaur 4 rocket for liftoff July 15 on the first Minotaur launch in nearly three years.

News Headlines

  • Soyuz lands safely in Kazakhstan to end record-breaking mission; Rubio: “It’s good to be home”
    September 27, 2023
  • Live coverage: Space station crew return to Earth after 371-day mission
    September 27, 2023
  • Rapid response Victus Nox launch success open new possibilities for Space Force, commercial space industry
    September 27, 2023
  • Two cosmonauts, NASA astronaut head for Wednesday landing after yearlong mission
    September 26, 2023
  • SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink satellites from California
    September 25, 2023
  • Home
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    • Soyuz
    • Space Station
  • Members
    • Sign in
    • Become a member
    • Members Content
  • Live
  • Shop

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