Rockets of Orbital Sciences Corporation (Now part of Northrop Grumman)

Pegasus is an air launched space launch vehicle. All three stages use Orion solid motors.

Pegasus first flew in 1990. An improved model, known as Pegasus XL, started flying in 1994. The XL model features lengthened first and second stage motors.

Most missions are launched from beneath a modified Lockheed L-1011 aircraft. Early missions were launched from a B-52 Stratofortress.

First Stage

Pegasus XL uses an Orion 50S XL as its first stage. The 50S XL has a fixed nozzle.

Second Stage

Second stage is an Orion 50XL.

Third Stage

An Orion 38 serves as third stage. The Orion 38 includes a vectorable thrust nozzle.

Pegasus-XL

Pegasus-XL on display at the Udvar-Hazy center. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

The Taurus is a four-stage, all solid propelled launch vehicle.

Taurus has flown nine missions between 1994 and 2011. Three of the nine launches failed.

The rockets third and fourth stages are similar to those used with the Pegasus launch vehicle.

First Stage (Stage 0)

The Taurus typically uses a Castor-120 as its first stage. On some models, a Peacekeeper first stage is used.

Second Stage (Stage 1)

Second stage can be either an Orion 50ST or 50SXLT. Both models feature a vectorable thrust nozzle.

Third Stage (Stage 2)

The third stage is an Orion 50T or Orion 50XLT. Both models feature a vectorable thrust nozzle.

Fourth Stage (Stage 3)

An Orion 38 serves as fourth stage. The Orion 38 includes a vectorable thrust nozzle.

Minotaur I

Minotaur I is an all solid fueled, four stage space launcher. The first and second stages were formally used with the Minuteman ICBM.

The rockets third and fourth stages are similar to those used with the Pegasus launch vehicle.

First Stage

First stage of the Minotaur rocket is a refurbished Minuteman II M55A1 solid rocket motor. The four nozzles are gimbaled to provide thrust vector control.

Second Stage

A refurbished Minuteman SR-19 solid rocket motor serves as second stage. The SR-19 features thrust vector control using liquid injection. Roll control is provided by a hot gas system.

Third Stage

Third stage is an Orion 50XL. Built by ATK, the 50XL features a vectorable nozzle.

Fourth Stage

An ATK Orion 38 serves as the fourth stage. The motor has a vectorable nozzle.

Minuteman III ICBM

Minuteman III on display at the National Air and Space Museum. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Minotaur II

Minotaur II is a sub-orbital target vehicle launcher. The rocket uses the first three stages from former Minuteman II ballistic missiles.

Minotaur III

The Minotaur III is intended for suborbital launches and uses the first three stages of decommissioned PeaceKeeper (MX) ballistic missiles. A hydrazine fueled fourth stage is included.

Minotaur IV

The Minotaur IV's first three stages were formally used with the PeaceKeeper (MX) ballistic missile.

The Minotaur IV first flew in April 2010.

First Stage

First stage of the Minotaur IV is a SR-118 solid rocket motor.

Second Stage

Second stage is a refurbished SR-119 motor.

Third Stage

An SR-120 motor serves as third stage.

Fourth Stage

Fourth stage is typically an Orion 38 solid rocket motor. A Star 48BV may also be used if required.

Minotaur V

The Minotaur V is a five stage version of the Minotaur IV. The first three stages were formally used with the Peacekeeper (MX) ballistic missile.

The first Minotaur V mission sucessfully placed the LADEE spacecraft into orbit. The launch took place on 6 September 2013 from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

First Stage

First stage of the Minotaur V is an SR-118 solid rocket motor.

Second Stage

Second stage is a refurbished SR-119 motor.

Third Stage

An SR-120 motor serves as third stage.

Fourth Stage

Fourth stage is a STAR 48BV solid rocket motor.

Fifth Stage

The rockets fifth stage is a STAR 37FM solid rocket motor.

Developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, the Antares rocket conducted its maiden flight in April 2013. The rocket was launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located near NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

First Stage

Early first stages (100 series) were powered by a pair of AJ26 engines. The AJ26 engines were modified Russian NK-33 engines. Later missions (200 series) used Russian RD-181 engines. Both engines use RP-1 and liquid oxygen as propellants.

Second Stage

The second stage initially used a solid-fueled Castor 30A motor. Later missions used the Castor 30B or Castor 30XL motor.

Third Stage

Future missions may optionally use a STAR-48 based, solid-fueled third stage motor.

Cygnus

A regular payload for the Antares rocket is the Cygnus spacecraft. Cygnus was developed to ferry supplies to the International Space Station. Known as CRS, or commercial resupply missions, these flights are scheduled to occur around twice per year.

Antares Launches

Flight	Launch Date	Launch Site	Ver.	Primary Payload	Mission	Results
9	17 Nov 2018	MARS	230	Cygnus	CRS NG-10, Resupply of ISS.	Success
8	21 May 2018	MARS	230	Cygnus	CRS OA-9, Resupply of ISS.	Success
7	12 Nov 2017	MARS	230	Cygnus	CRS OA-8E, Resupply of ISS.	Success
6	17 Oct 2016	MARS	230	Cygnus	CRS OA-5, Resupply of ISS.	Success
5	28 Oct 2014	MARS	130	Cygnus	CRS Orb-3, Resupply of ISS.	Failure
4	13 Jul 2014	MARS	120	Cygnus	CRS Orb-2, Resupply of ISS.	Success
3	9 Jan 2014	MARS	120	Cygnus	CRS Orb-1, Resupply of ISS.	Success
2	18 Sep 2013	MARS	110	Cygnus	Orb-D1, First Cygnus berthing with ISS.	Success
1	21 Apr 2013	MARS	110	Mass Simulator	Test flight of Antares rocket.	Success

NOTE: MARS = Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.

More information about Antares, can be found at the Northrop Grumman website.