An unmanned hypersonic glider developed for U.S. defense research was launched atop an Orbital Sciences Minotaur rocket from Vandenberg AFB, California today, Thursday. However, contact was lost after the experimental craft began flying on its own, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) said. There was no immediate information on how much of the mission's goals were achieved.
HTV-2 was launched atop an Orbital Sciences Minotaur rocket from Vandenberg AFB, California the US Air Force's primary west coast launch area. If all were to go according to plan, HTV-2 would accelerate to approximately M20.0 during atmospheric re-entry, then glide before splashdown into the Pacific Ocean.
The HTV-2 program serves as a demonstration of the hypersonic technologies that are needed to achieve a prompt global reach capability.
This will be the fourth launch of Orbital Sciences Corporation's Minotaur IV rocket which uses decommissioned Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile motors. This is also the 9th launch for the Minotaur program from Vandenberg AFB, Space Launch Complex 8. DARPA selected the Minotaur IV launch vehicle highlighting the responsive, reliable and cost-effective nature of the rocket.
The Minotaur family of launch vehicles are provided via the Orbital/Suborbital Program 2 and managed by the U.S. Air Force Space Development and Test Directorate's Launch Systems Division located at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.