The US Air Force Orbital Suborbital programme was inaugurated on 27 January when the Minotaur booster was launched for the first time, from Vandenberg AFB's commercial launch pad, operated by Spaceport International. The Minotaur carried the Jawsat multipayload adaptor holding the USAF Falconsat; the Arizona University Asusat; the Stanford University Opal,which comprises six nanosatellites; and a USAF optical calibration sphere. The Minotaur, operated by Orbital Sciences (OSC), comprises a two-stage Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, with two OSC Pegasus launcher upper stages.
Source: Flight International
