Launch of Minotaur IV with NROL-129 from Wallops

Video from the channel Space news about Minotaur IV, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 3:22. Language: English. Video type: Launch.

Northrop Grumman launches a Minotaur IV on the NROL-129 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, with four spacecraft headed to orbit from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops. The commentary presents it as the 20th anniversary of Minotaur launches and the 14th of the collaboration with Wallops.

After the countdown and liftoff, the rocket passes Mach 2, enters max Q at 36 seconds, and then passes Mach 3 and Mach 4. The second stage ignites, delivering more than 300,000 pounds of thrust at 85 seconds; the commentary then announces its shutdown and a coast phase.

The broadcast closes with the second stage shut down and parameters nominal. Liftoff was at 9:46 from pad 0B.