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Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV Rocket Successfully Launches Classified Payloads for U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. — A Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket successfully executed a mission, launching multiple classified payloads for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on April 16. This event marked the return of the solid-fueled Minotaur launch vehicle to Vandenberg Space Force Base after more than ten years, underscoring the critical role of assured access to space for national security missions.
Successful NROL-174 Mission from Vandenberg
The mission, designated NROL-174, achieved liftoff at 3:33 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time from Space Launch Complex 8 (SLC-8) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The National Reconnaissance Office promptly confirmed the mission’s success shortly after launch but did not release specific details regarding the classified payloads it carried into orbit.
National Reconnaissance Office: Building and Operating Spy Satellites
The NRO is responsible for developing and operating the nation’s reconnaissance satellites, often referred to as spy satellites. It plays a crucial role in providing essential intelligence data to the Department of Defense, various intelligence agencies, and key policymakers within the U.S. government.
Minotaur Rocket Returns to Vandenberg After Decade-Long Hiatus
This launch signified the first occasion since 2011 that a Minotaur rocket was utilized for an NRO mission originating from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The preceding NRO launch from Vandenberg using a Minotaur vehicle was designated NROL-66.
Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3) and Flexible Space Access
NROL-174 represents the third mission launched under the Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3). This program, overseen by the U.S. Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), is strategically designed to ensure flexible and responsive access to space for the government. It achieves this by procuring launch services on smaller, cost-effective rockets like the Minotaur IV.
The Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 serves as a contractual mechanism that enables the Space Force to acquire launch services for small- to medium-class payloads. These launches primarily support technology demonstrations, experimental payloads, and the deployment of operational systems on relatively short notice, enhancing rapid response capabilities in space.
Minotaur IV Rocket: Derived from Peacekeeper Missiles
The Minotaur IV launch vehicle is a four-stage rocket partially derived from decommissioned Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles. Its initial three stages are composed of government-supplied Peacekeeper solid rocket motors, while the upper stage incorporates a commercially produced Orion solid motor manufactured by Northrop Grumman.
This robust rocket possesses the capability to transport payloads weighing up to 1,730 kilograms (3,814 pounds) to low Earth orbit. Its inaugural flight occurred in 2010, and since then, it has been launched from various spaceports across the United States, including Wallops Island in Virginia, Kodiak Island in Alaska, Cape Canaveral in Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Prior NRO Missions on Minotaur Rockets
NROL-174 follows previous NRO missions successfully launched on Minotaur rockets. These include NROL-129 in 2020 and NROL-111 in 2021, both of which were launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.