An Orbital ATK Minotaur IV rocket carrying the ORS-5 USAF surveillance satellite is slated for its maiden liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida at 11:15 p.m. EDT on August 25, 2017. Credit: U.S. Air Force
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL — A gap filling space surveillance satellite that will track orbiting threats for the U.S. Air Force is set for an thrilling nighttime blastoff Friday, Aug. 25 on the maiden mission of the Minotaur IV rocket from Cape Canaveral that's powered by a retired Cold War-era ICBM missile.
The Orbital ATK Minotaur IV rocket carrying the ORS-5 tracking satellite for the USAF Operationally Responsive Space Office is targeting liftoff just before midnight Friday at 11:15 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-46 (SLC-46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The ORS-5 mission marks the first launch of a Minotaur IV rocket from Cape Canaveral and the first use of SLC-46 since 1999.
The Minotaur IV is a five stage rocket is comprised of three stages of a decommissioned Cold War-era Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that has been modified to add two additional Orbital ATK Orion 38 solid rocket motors for the upper stages.
Being a night launch and the first of its kind will surely make for a spectacular sky show.
Its well worth your time if you can watch the Minotaur launch with your own eyeballs. It can be easily viewed from numerous local area beaches, parks, restaurants and more.
Watch the live broadcast on http://www.orbitalatk.com beginning approximately 20 minutes before the launch window opens.
Will be hosted by formed CNN space reporter John Zarrella
Minotaur IV ORS-5 mission patch
Minotaur IV ORS-5 Mission Trajectory. Credit: Orbital ATK
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