Successful Launch of Classified Payloads by Minotaur IV Rocket

On April 16th, a Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket successfully launched multiple classified payloads for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This marked a significant return for the solid-fueled launch vehicle to Vandenberg after more than a decade's absence. The mission, designated NROL-174, lifted off at 3:33 p.m. Eastern from Space Launch Complex 8 (SLC-8).

The NRO swiftly confirmed the launch's success but refrained from disclosing details regarding the payloads. The NRO's role in building and operating U.S. spy satellites, providing intelligence to the Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, and policymakers, is well-established. This launch was the first Minotaur NRO mission from Vandenberg since 2011, the previous one being NROL-66.

NROL-174 constitutes the third mission under the Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3), overseen by the U.S. Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP). This program prioritizes flexible space access for the government by utilizing smaller rockets such as the Minotaur IV. OSP-3 is a contract designed to procure small- and medium-class launch services, primarily for technology demonstrations, experimental payloads, and operational systems requiring short-notice deployment.

The Minotaur IV, a four-stage rocket, cleverly incorporates decommissioned Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles. Its first three stages utilize government-furnished Peacekeeper solid rocket motors, while the upper stage employs a commercial Orion solid motor manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The rocket boasts a significant payload capacity, up to 1,730 kilograms (3,814 pounds) to low Earth orbit, and first launched in 2010. It has since operated from various U.S. locations, including Wallops Island, Kodiak Island, Cape Canaveral, and now, once again, Vandenberg.

NROL-174 follows other successful NRO missions utilizing Minotaur rockets—NROL-129 in 2020 and NROL-111 in 2021—both launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.