Northrop Grumman NROL-174 Minotaur IV
About the NROL-174 Mission
| Type | Government/Top Secret |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit |
Classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
This classified mission is operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the U.S. government agency responsible for designing, building, and operating reconnaissance satellites. NRO missions support national security by providing critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities from space.
Understand National Reconnaissance Office satellite missions (opens in a new tab)
Launch Pad & Location
Space Launch Complex 8
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
| Launches | 10 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 10 |
| Total Launches | 916 |
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Orbital ATK Minotaur IV Rocket
The Minotaur IV launch system is derived from the Peacekeeper ICBM. The first three stages are taken directly from decommissioned Peacekeeper missiles. A fourth stage, the Orion-38, is taken from the Pegasus family of air-launched rockets.
| Length | 23.9 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 2.4 m |
| Stages | 4 |
| Launch Mass | 86.0 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 2,200.0 kN |
| Apogee | 500.0 km |
| LEO Capacity | 1,735 kg |
| Maiden Flight | 9/26/2010 |
About Northrop Grumman
Northrup Grumman Space Systems designs, builds and delivers space, defence and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. They aquired Orbital ATK in 2018 along with its launchers and ongoing missions.
| Total Launches | 17 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 17 |
| Pending | 1 |
| Consecutive Success | 17 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV NROL-174 launch scheduled?
The Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV NROL-174 launch was scheduled for:
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Where did the Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV NROL-174 mission launch from?
The Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 8 at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
What rocket was used for the NROL-174 mission?
The NROL-174 mission launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket. The Minotaur IV launch system is derived from the Peacekeeper ICBM. The first three stages are taken directly from decommissioned Peacekeeper missiles. A fourth stage, the Orion-38, is taken from the Pegasus family of air-launched rockets. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV NROL-174 launch?
The Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV NROL-174 launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV NROL-174 launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the NROL-174 mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official Northrop Grumman live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
Last Updated
Last Updated:
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Launch success
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Apparent liftoff
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Tweaked T-0.
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GO for launch.
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NET April 16.
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Added launch.