Space Launch
Northrop Grumman has been at the forefront of Space Launch technology for decades, conducting nearly 100 space launch missions and boosting hundreds of payloads into space.
![NG-12-Antares-Launch A rocket beginning to liftoff from launch pad in front of a blue sky](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/Project/Northrop-Grumman/ngc/space/nasa-commercial-resupply-missions/NG-12-Antares-Launch.jpg?mw=3840&rev=943d4992d62a48bb9cb5dd52aefa4bc8)
Northrop Grumman built the world’s first privately-developed space launch vehicle. Since then, we have conducted nearly 100 space launch missions with our Pegasus®, Minotaur™ and Antares™ space launch vehicles, boosting hundreds of satellites into space.
![Medium Launch Vehicle taking off from launch pad](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/Project/Northrop-Grumman/ngc/space/MLV-w-NG-Launch-Composite.jpg?mw=3840&rev=29030de218004e009d20f5c970f48f0b)
Medium Launch Vehicle
Northrop Grumman and FireFly are co-developing a new medium launch vehicle (MLV) that combines the best flight-proven technologies, systems, and mission experience from both companies to fill a void in the underserved medium-lift market. Carrying more than 16,000 kg to low Earth orbit, MLV serves commercial, civil, national security, and international launch markets with competitive pricing to customers’ preferred orbits.
![Antares NG-15_Sunrise A rocket on launch pad at sunrise in front of a partial blue lit sky as sun comes up](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/wp-content/uploads/Antares-NG-15_Sunrise.jpg?mw=3840&rev=5e597c8690e14c8a81d83d87c766a7e4)
Antares
Designed to provide responsive and low-cost access to space, the Antares rocket is a two-stage vehicle that provides low-Earth orbit (LEO) launch capability for payloads weighing up to 8,000 kg. The rocket’s upgraded design features newly-built RD-181 first stage engines to provide greater payload performance and increased reliability.
![Pegasus in flight Resize A rocket blasting off in blue sky with a plume](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/wp-content/uploads/Pegasus-in-flight-Resize.jpg?mw=3840&rev=5457f01fa71e4832bc2965d6ad35fb56)
Pegasus
The three-stage Pegasus rocket is used to deploy small satellites weighing up to 1,000 pounds (454 kg) into low-earth orbit. Pegasus is carried aloft by our Stargazer L-1011 aircraft to approximately 40,000 feet over open ocean, where it is released and free-falls for five seconds before igniting its first stage rocket motor. With its unique delta-shaped wing, Pegasus typically delivers satellites into orbit in a little over 10 minutes. First flown in 1990, Pegasus has conducted 45 missions launching nearly 100 spacecraft.
![Minotaur-IV_ORS-5 A rocket streak from a rocket launching into Space in front of dark cloudy sky](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/wp-content/uploads/Minotaur-IV_ORS-5.jpg?mw=3840&rev=bd2bdc3fbf7745a580dc176b304c0398)
Minotaur Rocket
Under the U.S. Air Force Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3) contract, Northrop Grumman integrates, tests and provides space launch services for the Minotaur I, IV, V, VI and C family of rockets.
Employing a combination of U.S. government-supplied rocket motors and the company's proven commercial launch technologies, the Minotaur rocket family provides low-cost and reliable access to space for government-sponsored payloads. To date, our Minotaur rockets have completed 28 missions out of every major U.S. spaceport, demonstrating the vehicle's unique versatility and reliability.
Space Launches in the News
![Cygnus cargo delivery spacecraft launch of Cygnus cargo delivery spacecraft](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/Project/Northrop-Grumman/ngc/space/nasa-commercial-resupply-missions/20th-Cargo-Resupply-Mission-Successfully-Launches-to-the-International-Space-Station.jpg?mh=300&rev=88f004a70d384b2a8323826cb6d9cbf8)
Northrop Grumman’s 20th Cargo Resupply Mission Successfully Launches to the International Space Station for NASA
![rocket launching at night](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/wp-content/uploads/Advocating-with-Agility-hero-001/Counting-Down-10-Launch-Traditions-Hero/NG-19-Launch-Marks-10-Years-of-International-Space-Station-Cargo-Resupply-Missions.jpg?mh=300&rev=04d902de4d6c421186dbbc39c2c6a2cc)
Northrop Grumman’s NG-19 Launch Marks 10 Years of International Space Station Cargo Resupply Missions
![Northrop-Grummans-18th-Cygnus-Cargo-Resupply-Spacecraft-Arrives-at-International-Space-Station rocket being launched](https://cdn.northropgrumman.com/-/jssmedia/wp-content/uploads/Northrop-Grummans-18th-Cygnus-Cargo-Resupply-Spacecraft-Arrives-at-International-Space-Station.jpg?mh=300&rev=7ce96e604f394094a3813e83a30bd74a)