All rockets Active rocket from USA

Minotaur

updated 9 days ago

American ICBM-derived solid-fuel small-lift rocket

Minotaur rockets are made from decommissioned Minuteman and Peacekeeper ballistic missiles, repurposed as small launch vehicles for US national security payloads. Only the US government can book a flight. The Minotaur IV launched a classified National Reconnaissance Office mission from Vandenberg in April 2025 — the first Minotaur launch from California in fourteen years.

We track every Minotaur launch.

Service since 1994
1994 to 2027
1994 first flight 2011 peak (5 launches)
launches
40
success
93%
upcoming
1

Minotaur Launch Activity

Past launches and what's coming up

  1. Oct 31 201721:37 UTC
    Oct 31 2017
    21:37 UTC
    SkySat x 6
    Success
  2. Jul 15 202013:46 UTC
    Jul 15 2020
    13:46 UTC
    NROL-129 Broadcast available
    Success
  3. Jun 15 202113:35 UTC
    Jun 15 2021
    13:35 UTC
    NROL-111
    Success
  4. Apr 16 202519:33 UTC
    Apr 16 2025
    19:33 UTC
    NROL-174
    Success
  5. Apr 07 202611:33 UTC
    Apr 07 2026
    11:33 UTC
    STPSat-7
    Success
  6. Now Jul 08 · 2026

  7. Upcoming

  8. Q1 2027
    Q1 2027
    EWS OD-1

Full Launch History

2027 Q1
EWS OD-1
USA • Minotaur IV
Apr 7, 2026
STPSat-7
USA • Minotaur IV
Apr 16, 2025
NROL-174
USA • Minotaur IV / Orion 38
Jun 15, 2021
NROL-111
USA • Minotaur I
Jul 15, 2020
NROL-129
USA • Minotaur IV / Orion 38
Oct 31, 2017
SkySat x 6
USA • Minotaur C-XL-3210
Aug 26, 2017
ORS-5
USA • Minotaur IV / Orion 38
Nov 20, 2013
ORS-3
USA • Minotaur I
Sep 7, 2013
LADEE
USA • Minotaur V
Sep 27, 2011
TacSat-4
USA • Minotaur IV+
Aug 11, 2011
HTV-2b
USA • Minotaur IV Lite
Jun 30, 2011
USA-231
USA • Minotaur I
Mar 4, 2011Failure
Glory
USA • Minotaur C-XL-3110
Feb 6, 2011
USA-225
USA • Minotaur I
Nov 20, 2010
STPSat-2
USA • Minotaur IV / HAPS
Sep 26, 2010
USA-216
USA • Minotaur IV
Apr 22, 2010
HTV-2a
USA • Minotaur IV Lite
May 19, 2009
TacSat-3
USA • Minotaur I
Feb 24, 2009Failure
Orbiting Carbon Observatory
USA • Minotaur C-XL-3110
Sep 24, 2008
TLV-8
USA • Minotaur II+
Aug 23, 2007
TLV-7 Mission 2a sensor target for NFIRE satellite
USA • Minotaur II+
Apr 24, 2007
NFIRE
USA • Minotaur I
Mar 21, 2007
TLV-5 FTX-02 SBR target mission
USA • Minotaur II
Dec 16, 2006
TacSat-2
USA • Minotaur I
Apr 15, 2006
COSMIC
USA • Minotaur I
Sep 23, 2005
USA-185
USA • Minotaur I
Apr 11, 2005
USA-165
USA • Minotaur I
May 20, 2004
FORMOSAT-2
USA • Minotaur C-XL-3210
Dec 11, 2002
TLV-4 GMDS target mission
USA • Minotaur II
Oct 15, 2002
TLV-3 GMDS target mission
USA • Minotaur II
Mar 16, 2002
TLV-2 IFT-8 GMDS target mission
USA • Minotaur II
Dec 4, 2001
TLV-1 IFT-7 GMDS target mission
USA • Minotaur II
Sep 21, 2001Failure
Orbview-4
USA • Minotaur C-2110
Jul 19, 2000
Mightysat 2.1
USA • Minotaur I
May 28, 2000
OSP-TLV Missile Defense Technology Demonstrator
USA • Minotaur II
Mar 12, 2000
MTI
USA • Minotaur C-1110
Jan 27, 2000
JAWSAT
USA • Minotaur I
Dec 21, 1999
KOMPSAT and ACRIMSAT
USA • Minotaur C-2110
Oct 3, 1998
Space Technology Experiment
USA • Minotaur C-1110
Feb 10, 1998
GFO and Orbcomm
USA • Minotaur C-2210
Mar 13, 1994
First flight of Taurus
USA • Minotaur C-1110