Orbital ATK - Minotaur IV ORS-5 Mission patch.
Aug. 26, 2017
Image above: Minotaur IV launch of the ORS-5 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Photo credit: Ben Cooper.
Orbital ATK's 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.
Minotaur IV launches ORS-5 Satellite
Orbital ATK is set to launch a Minotaur IV rocket carrying the ORS-5 satellite for the United States Air Force on Friday, August 25, 2017 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.The launch occurred at 06:04 UTC (02:04 EDT) on August 26, 2017.
Minotaur Mission Trajectory. Image Credit: Orbital ATK
About the Mission
Orbital ATK's Minotaur IV space launch vehicle will launch the ORS-5 mission for the U.S. Air Force as a part of the Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3) contract. ORS-5, also known as SensorSat, is designed to scan for other satellites and debris to aid the U.S. military’s tracking of objects in geosynchronous orbit. For the ORS-5 launch, the Minotaur IV use two Orion 38 upper stage motors. The final Orion 38 motor burn reduce the angle of the ORS-5 satellite’s orbit, redirecting the spacecraft to equatorial orbit.
Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3) satellite. Image Credit: Günter Space Page
Minotaur IV Fact Sheet: https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/BR06005_3862%20MinotaurIV_030117.pdf
ORS-5 Fact Sheet: http://www.kirtland.af.mil/Portals/52/documents/ORS-5.pdf?ver=2016-11-22-133146-210
Minotaur Webpage: http://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/default.aspx
Minotaur Mission History: https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/MinotaurMissionHistory.pdf
Orbital ATK website: https://www.orbitalatk.com/
Images (mentioned), Video (SciNews), Text, Credits: Orbital ATK/Orbiter.ch Aerospace.