Northrop Grumman’s Minotaur IV Rocket Successfully Launches National Security Payload for National Reconnaissance Office
April 21, 2025 | Northrop GrummanEstimated reading time: Less than a minute
Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully launched the NROL-174 mission on a Minotaur IV rocket for the National Reconnaissance Office from Space Launch Complex 8 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Minotaur IV is part of Northrop Grumman’s Minotaur family of vehicles that combines U.S. government-supplied rocket motors with the company’s proven commercial launch capabilities.
“Since the first launch in January of 2000, our Minotaur rockets have continued to provide unique and reliable space launch solutions to support national security missions for the U.S. government,” said Mike Pinkston, vice president, launch vehicles, Northrop Grumman. “Our ability to deliver several Minotaur configurations for a wide range of missions is a proven area of technology expertise, which we’ll continue to build on to expand access to space.”
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