Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV

Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK, is a small-lift launch vehicle repurposed from the retired LGM-118 Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile. It was developed by Orbital Sciences, now owned by Northrop Grumman, as part of the United States Air Force Orbital Suborbital Program, and Northrop Grumman operates it. It first flew on April 22, 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle, and its first orbital launch on September 26, 2010 placed the Space Based Space Surveillance satellite into orbit for the Air Force. The four-stage rocket can deliver up to 1,591 kilograms (3,508 lb) to low Earth orbit, using decommissioned Peacekeeper motors for its first three stages and an Orion 38 motor for the fourth. The Minotaur IV+ swaps in a Star 48BV upper stage, and the three-stage Minotaur IV Lite flies suborbital missions. Because it uses decommissioned ICBM components, it can only launch US government missions.