 Minotaur II launch from Vandenberg | |
| Function | Suborbital launch system |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Orbital Sciences (original); Northrop Grumman (current) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 19.21 metres (63.0 ft) |
| Diameter | 1.67 metres (5 ft 6 in) |
| Mass | 36,200 kilograms (79,800 lb) |
| Stages | 2 or 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to 8000km S/O | |
| Mass | 400 kilograms (880 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Vandenberg LF-06 Vandenberg TP-01 |
| Total launches | 9 |
| Success(es) | 8 |
| First flight | 28 May 2000 |
| Last flight | 7 July 2022 |
| First stage – M55E1 | |
| Powered by | 1 Solid |
| Maximum thrust | 935 kilonewtons (210,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Second stage – SR19AJ1 | |
| Powered by | 1 Solid |
| Maximum thrust | 268 kilonewtons (60,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage (Baseline) – M57A1 | |
| Powered by | 1 Solid |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage (Minotaur II+) – SR-73-AJ | |
| Powered by | 1 Solid |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage (Heavy) – Orion 50XL | |
| Powered by | 1 Solid |
| Maximum thrust | 118.2 kilonewtons (26,600 lbf) |
| Burn time | 74 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
Minotaur II rockets consist of the M55A1 first stage and SR19AJ1 second stage of a decommissioned Minuteman missile. The third stage varies depending on the configuration required for the payload: a Minuteman II M57A1 stage is used on the baseline configuration, whilst the Minotaur II+ uses an SR-73-AJ. The Minotaur II Lite is a two-stage configuration, without a third stage. A heavy configuration is also available, with an Orion 50XL third stage, as used on the Minotaur I. The baseline configuration can propel a 400 kilograms (880 lb) payload 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) downrange, whilst the heavy configuration can place 1,400 kilograms (3,100 lb) onto an 8,000-kilometre (5,000 mi) trajectory.
Nine Minotaur II rockets have been launched as of July 2022, with six flights using the baseline configuration and three using the Minotaur II+ configuration. Launches are conducted from Launch Facility 06 (LF-06) and Test Pad 01 (TP-01).