Orbital ATK Successfully Launches Minotaur IV Rocket Carrying ORS-5 Satellite for the U.S. Air Force
August 26 2017 - 3:35AM
Business Wire
Successful Flight Extends Flawless Record of
Minotaur Product Line to 26 Missions
Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies, announced its Minotaur IV space launch vehicle
successfully launched and placed into orbit the U.S. Air Force’s
Operationally Responsive Space-5 (ORS-5) spacecraft on August 26,
2017. The Minotaur IV launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station’s Space Launch Complex 46 (SLC-46), which is operated under
license by Space Florida. This mission marks the 26th consecutive
successful launch for the company’s Minotaur product line.
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Orbital ATK's Minotaur IV rocket roars
off from Space Florida's Launch Complex 46 carrying the ORS-5
satellite for the U.S. Air Force. (Photo: Business Wire)
The rocket’s first stage ignited at 2:04 a.m. (EDT).
Approximately 28 minutes later, the Minotaur IV deployed the ORS-5
satellite into its targeted low inclination orbit 372 miles (599
kilometers) above the earth. From this orbit, ORS-5 will deliver
timely, reliable and accurate space situational awareness
information to the United States Strategic Command through the
Joint Space Operations Center.
“This was our first Minotaur launch from Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station, demonstrating the rocket’s capability to launch from
all four major U.S. spaceports,” said Rich Straka, Vice President
and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles Division.
“With a perfect track record of 26 successful launches, the
Minotaur family has proven to be a valuable and reliable asset for
the Department of Defense.”
The Minotaur family of launch vehicles is based on
government-furnished Peacekeeper and Minuteman rocket motors that
Orbital ATK has upgraded and integrated with modern avionics and
other subsystems to produce an affordable launcher based on
flight-proven hardware. Minotaur rockets have now launched from
ranges in California, Virginia, Alaska and Florida. The vehicles
are procured under the OSP-3 contract administered by Kirtland Air
Force Base.
“Orbital ATK has launched nearly 100 space launch and strategic
rockets for the U.S. Air Force,” said Scott Lehr, President of
Orbital ATK’s Flight Systems Group. “We’re proud to be a partner
they can count on.”
The ORS-5 launch was the sixth Minotaur IV flight. The Minotaur
IV is capable of launching payloads up to 4,000 lbs. (or 1,800 kg.)
to low-Earth orbit. This mission’s Minotaur IV configuration
included three decommissioned Peacekeeper stages, an Orion 38
solid-fuel upper stage and an additional Orion 38 insertion stage
for the payload. The Minotaur rockets are manufactured at Orbital
ATK’s facilities in Chandler, Arizona; Vandenberg, California; and
Clearfield and Magna, Utah.
The ORS-5 team is led by the Space and Missile Systems Center’s
Operationally Responsive Space Office, located at Kirtland Air
Force Base, New Mexico. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts, is the ORS-5 prime
contractor. The 50th Space Wing at Schriever AFB, Colorado Springs,
Colorado, operates the ORS-5 system.
The Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center,
located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the Air
Force's center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and
developing military space systems such as ORS-5. Its portfolio
includes the Global Positioning System, military satellite
communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and
range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared
systems and space situational awareness capabilities.
About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense
technologies. The company designs, builds and delivers space,
defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both
as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. Its main products
include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile
products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons,
armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space
components and services; and advanced aerospace structures.
Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs
approximately 13,000 people across the U.S. and in several
international locations. For more information, visit
www.orbitalatk.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170826005005/en/
Media Contact:Orbital ATKTrina Patterson, (801)
699-0943Launch Vehicles Division
Communicationstrina.patterson@orbitalatk.comorInvestor
Contact:Orbital ATKBarron Beneski, (703) 406-5528Public and
Investor Relationsbarron.beneski@orbitalatk.com
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