Orbital Minotaur I - Manual (Page 17)

Minotaur I User’s Guide Section 2.0 – Minotaur I Configurations
2. MINOTAUR I CONFIGURATIONS
2.1. Minotaur I Launch System Overview
The Minotaur I launch vehicle, shown in
Figure 2.1-1, was developed by Orbital for the
United States Air Force (USAF) to provide a cost
effective, reliable and flexible means of placing
small satellites into orbit. Orbital is the launch
vehicle developer and manufacturer under the
Orbital Suborbital Program 3 (OSP-3) contract for
the U.S. Air Force. An overview of the system and
available launch services is provided within this
section, with specific elements covered in greater
detail in the subsequent sections of this User’s
Guide.
Minotaur I has been designed to meet the needs
of United States Government-sponsored
customers at a lower cost than commercially
available alternatives through the use of surplus
Minuteman boosters. OSP-3 requirements
emphasize system reliability, transportability, and
operation from multiple launch sites. Minotaur I
draws on the successful heritage of Orbital’s
space launch vehicles and the Minuteman II system of the USAF to meet these requirements. Orbital has
built upon these legacy systems with enhanced avionics components and advanced composite structures
to meet the payload-support requirements of the OSP-3 program. Combining these improved subsystems
with the long and successful history of the Minuteman II boosters has resulted in a simple, robust, self-
contained launch system with a proven success record that is fully operational to support government-
sponsored small satellite launches.
The Minotaur I system also includes a complete set of transportable Launch Support Equipment (LSE)
designed to allow Minotaur I to be operated as a self-contained satellite delivery system. The Electrical
Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) has been developed to be portable and adaptable to varying levels of
infrastructure. While the Minotaur I system is capable of self-contained operation at austere launch sites
using portable vans, typical operations occur from permanent facilities on established ranges.
The Minotaur I system is designed to be capable of launch from four commercial Spaceports (Alaska,
California, Florida, and Mid-Atlantic), as well as from existing U.S. Government facilities at VAFB and
CCAFS. A Launch Control Room (LCR) serves as the control center for conducting a Minotaur I launch
and includes consoles for Orbital, range safety, and limited customer personnel. Further description of the
Launch Support Equipment is provided in Section 2.4.
2.2. Minotaur I Launch Service
The Minotaur I Launch Service is provided through the combined efforts of the USAF and Orbital, along
with associate contractors and Commercial Spaceports. The primary customer interface will be with the
USAF Space and Missile Systems Center, Space Development and Test Directorate, Launch Systems
Figure 2.1-1. Minotaur I Launch Vehicle
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