# Minotaur V

> American expendable launch system

**Wikidata**: [Q3270785](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3270785)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur_V)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/minotaur-v

## Summary
The Minotaur V is an American expendable launch system manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation. It belongs to the Minotaur family of rockets and is based on the design of the Minotaur IV. The vehicle has been utilized to launch payloads such as NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE).

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** It is a rocket model and expendable launch system.
- **Manufacturer:** Orbital Sciences Corporation.
- **Origin:** United States.
- **Family:** It is a subclass of the Minotaur family of American rockets.
- **Design Basis:** The rocket is based on the Minotaur IV, an active launch system derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM.
- **Notable Mission:** Launched the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), a NASA lunar orbiter.
- **Launch Site:** Launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad 0B.
- **Mission Date:** A notable launch occurred on September 4, 2013.

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactures the Minotaur V?
A: The Minotaur V is manufactured by the Orbital Sciences Corporation, an American company.

### Q: What rocket is the Minotaur V based on?
A: The Minotaur V is based on the Minotaur IV. The Minotaur IV is itself derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM.

### Q: What was the Minotaur V used to launch?
A: The Minotaur V was used to launch the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), a NASA lunar orbiter.

## Why It Matters
The Minotaur V represents a critical adaptation of military technology for scientific and space exploration purposes. As a member of the Minotaur rocket family, its lineage traces back to the LGM-118 Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) via the Minotaur IV. This transformation allows for the utilization of decommissioned military hardware to support space missions, offering a cost-effective and reliable launch solution.

Its significance is highlighted by its role in deep space exploration, specifically its deployment of the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE). This mission demonstrated the rocket's capability to send payloads beyond Earth's orbit to the Moon. By bridging the gap between Cold War-era weapon systems and modern NASA scientific endeavors, the Minotaur V serves as a key asset in the United States' space launch infrastructure.

## Notable For
- **Heritage:** Being derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM via the Minotaur IV platform.
- **Lunar Mission:** Successfully launching the NASA Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE).
- **Family Status:** Being a distinct subclass within the broader Minotaur family of American rockets.
- **Manufacturer:** Produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation, a major entity in the aerospace industry.

## Body
### Development and Lineage
The Minotaur V is an American expendable launch system developed as a subclass of the Minotaur family of rockets. It is manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation in the United States. The system is structurally and technologically based on the Minotaur IV, which is an active expendable launch system originally derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM.

### Notable Launches
The launch system is perhaps best known for its role in deploying the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE). This NASA lunar orbiter was launched by a Minotaur V vehicle.

**Mission Details:**
*   **Payload:** Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE)
*   **Location:** Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad 0B
*   **Date:** September 4, 2013

### Technical Classification
The Minotaur V is officially classified as a "rocket model" and an "expendable launch system." It shares its foundational design with the Minotaur IV but is configured to meet specific mission profiles, such as lunar insertion.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. BabelNet