Orbital wins two Minotaur launch contracts
Posted: Fri, May 26, 2006, 1:27 PM ET (1727 GMT)
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced Thursday that it has won contracts for the launches of two small military satellites on its Minotaur 1 launch vehicle. The $23-million contract covers the launch of the TacSat-2 spacecraft in 2006 and the TacSat-3 spacecraft the following year. The two spacecraft are small experimental spacecraft being developed to test small satellite technologies and operational techniques as part of a broader initiative within the Defense Department known as Operationally Responsive Space (ORS). The Minotaur 1 uses the lower two stages of retired Minuteman ICBMs and the upper stages from Pegasus launch vehicles. Because of its use of former ICBM components it is principally limited to government launches. The Minotaur 1 has performed five launches, including three since April 2005, all successfully.
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced Thursday that it has won contracts for the launches of two small military satellites on its Minotaur 1 launch vehicle. The $23-million contract covers the launch of the TacSat-2 spacecraft in 2006 and the TacSat-3 spacecraft the following year. The two spacecraft are small experimental spacecraft being developed to test small satellite technologies and operational techniques as part of a broader initiative within the Defense Department known as Operationally Responsive Space (ORS). The Minotaur 1 uses the lower two stages of retired Minuteman ICBMs and the upper stages from Pegasus launch vehicles. Because of its use of former ICBM components it is principally limited to government launches. The Minotaur 1 has performed five launches, including three since April 2005, all successfully.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, November 11
Kazakh farmers put Starlink on horses and dogs to herd livestock
Intellinews — 5:07 am ET (1007 GMT) Rocket Lab Shares Surge With Bigger Launch Planned for 2026
Wall Street Journal — 5:05 am ET (1005 GMT) FAA Order Restricting Launch Hours Could Affect Upcoming SpaceX Missions from Vandenberg
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 5:00 am ET (1000 GMT) SpaceX successfully launches Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Space Coast
WESH-TV Orlando — 5:00 am ET (1000 GMT) Airbus ships fourth European Service Module for Artemis IV
Airbus Group — 4:59 am ET (0959 GMT) |
