ATLANTIC, Va.- A Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV supply rocket successfully launched Wednesday morning from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
The rocket, which lifted off shortly before 10 a.m., is carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise Program is providing the launch services for this mission. This is the first-ever mission by the U.S. Space Force from Wallops.
The 78-foot tall Minotaur IV launch vehicle consists of three solid-fueled motors from decommissioned Peacekeeper ICBMs and a commercial solid rocket upper stage.