NROL-66 (RPP) (USA-225)

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Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Government/Top Secret

Low Earth Orbit Space Launch Complex 8 Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

USA-225, also known as the Rapid Pathfinder Prototype (RPP) and NRO Launch 66 (NROL-66), is an American satellite which was launched in 2011. The satellite is being used to perform technology demonstration and development experiments, including advanced dosimeters to characterize the space environment from a 1,200 kilometer low Earth orbit. It is operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office.

Minotaur I

Family:
Configuration:

The Minotaur I launch system is derived from converted Minuteman II ICBMs and is used to launch small satellites for the US Government. The first and second stages, taken directly from decommissioned Minuteman missiles, are mated to the Orion third and fourth stages taken from the Pegasus XL air-launched rocket family. An optional hydrazine-powered fifth stage called HAPS can be used.The Minotaur I launch system is derived from converted Minuteman II ICBMs and is used to launch small satellites for the US Government. An optional hydrazine-powered fifth stage called HAPS can be used.

Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    4
  • Max Stage
    5
  • Length
    19.21 m
  • Diameter
    1.67 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    36.0 T
  • Thrust
    935.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Minotaur I
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
    Minotaur OSP-SLV
  • Full Name
    Minotaur I
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    580.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    331.0 kg

Orbital Sciences Corporation

Orbital Sciences Corporation

(OSC)

Successes: 65 Failures: 7 Pending: 0

Agency Type:

INFO WIKI

Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Space Launch Complex 8


Falcon 9
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Long March 3
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4 days ago
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Starship
Failure
6 days, 18 hours ago
Flight 8
Orbital Launch Mount A - SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA

Eighth test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.


Ariane 62
Success
1 week ago
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Falcon 9
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1 week, 3 days ago
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Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 21 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


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Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Glonass-K2 No. 14 (Kosmos 2584)
43/3 (43L) - Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

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Kuaizhou
Failure
1 week, 5 days ago
Unknown Payload
Launch Area 95A - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Details TBD.


Soyuz 2.1a
Success
1 week, 6 days ago
Progress MS-30 (91P)
31/6 - Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan

Progress resupply mission to the International Space Station.