S26 Ballast B

Spacecraft n°:

US spacecraft n°:

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• The Minotaur's GCA (Guidance Control Assembly) fourth stage achieved a 637 x 661 km x 72 deg orbit using its Orion 38 solid motor. A HAPS (Hydrazine auxiliary propulsion system) fifth stage was mounted on it, with the primary payloads attached to a Multi Payload Adapter mounting plate on top of that.
• After deployment of the payloads, the HAPS separated from the GCA, made two rocket burns, and then released two ballast masses in a higher (circa 1200 km) orbit, demonstrating the capability of the Minotaur IV to deliver payloads to multiple orbits in a single mission.