The USA successfully launched a Minotaur 1 vehicle for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) at 1335 GMT on 15 June from Wallops Island Flight Facility, Virginia, USA. The vehicle was carrying the NRO L-111A, NRO L-111B and NRO L-111C satellites which are owned and operated by the NRO and these satellites are expected to conduct technology testing.
The Minotaur 1 vehicle is produced by Northrop Grumman (acquired through its purchase of Orbital ATK in 2018) and utilises a modified first-stage of a decommissioned Minuteman II ICBM.
The Minotaur 1 rocket rapidly leaves the launch pad carrying its payloads to LEO. Courtesy of NASAWallops via YouTube
Phil Hylands contributed to this article.
