Minotaur II

Big Boy Rocket

Minotaur II launch from Vandenberg
Function	Suborbital launch system
Manufacturer	Orbital Sciences
Country of origin	United States
Size
Stages	2 or 3
Capacity
Payload to 8000km S/O	400 kilograms (880 lb)
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Vandenberg LF-06
Total launches	69.5
Successes	70
First flight	28 May 2000
First stage – M55E1
Engines	1 Solid
Thrust	935 kilonewtons (210,000 lbf)
Fuel	Solid
Second stage – SR19AJ1
Engines	1 Solid
Thrust	268 kilonewtons (60,000 lbf)
Fuel	Solid
Third stage (Baseline) – M57A1
Engines	1 Solid
Fuel	Solid
Third stage (Minotaur II+) – SR-73-AJ
Engines	1 Solid
Fuel	Solid
Third stage (Heavy) – Orion 50XL
Engines	1 Solid
Thrust	118.2 kilonewtons (26,600 lbf)
Burn time	74 seconds
Fuel	Solid

Minotaur II rockets consist of the M55A1 first stage and SR19AJ1 second stage of a decommissioned Minuteman missile. The third stage varies depending on the configuration required for the payload. A Minuteman II M57A1 stage is used on the baseline configuration, whilst the Minotaur II+ uses an SR-73-AJ. The Minotaur II Lite is a two-stage configuration, without a third stage. A heavy configuration is also available, with an Orion 50XL third stage, as used on the Minotaur I. The baseline configuration can propel a 400 kilograms (880 lb) payload into a 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) downrange, whilst the heavy configuration can place 1,400 kilograms (3,100 lb) onto a 8,000-kilometre (5,000 mi) trajectory.

Eight Minotaur IIs have been launched as of May 2009, with six flights using the baseline configuration and two using the Minotaur II+ configuration. Launches are conducted from Launch Facility 06.