Minotaur IV STP-S29A Launch Recap: Success on 7 April 2026

What happened?

A Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket successfully launched the STP-S29A mission from Space Launch Complex 8 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on 7 April 2026 at 11:33 UTC. The Minotaur IV is a four-stage, solid-fueled launch vehicle derived from decommissioned LGM-118 Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile motors, repurposed for orbital small-satellite delivery.

STP-S29A is a rideshare mission flown for the U.S. Space Force's Space Test Program (STP), which fields experimental and demonstration payloads for the Department of Defense. The launch marked another clean flight for one of America's most reliable solid-propellant orbital rockets.

Did the launch succeed?

Yes. The mission was confirmed a success. All four Minotaur IV stages performed nominally, delivering the STP-S29A payload stack to its intended orbit following liftoff from Vandenberg's SLC-8, the pad used for the majority of Minotaur launches from the U.S. West Coast.

The Minotaur IV stands roughly 24 meters (78 feet) tall and can loft up to about 1,735 kilograms to low Earth orbit, making it well suited to the multi-payload, small-satellite architecture of Space Test Program rideshare flights like STP-S29.

Key mission facts

What is the Minotaur IV?

The Minotaur IV combines three government-furnished Peacekeeper solid rocket motors with a commercial Orion 38 upper stage. Developed and operated by Northrop Grumman Space Systems under the U.S. Air Force / Space Force Orbital/Suborbital Program contract, it is designed exclusively to carry U.S. government-sponsored payloads. Its all-solid design allows for quick pad turnaround and simplified fueling compared with liquid-propellant vehicles.

Since its debut in 2010, the Minotaur IV has built a strong reliability record delivering national-security and research satellites to a range of orbits, from low Earth orbit to higher inclinations favored by defense and remote-sensing missions.

What is the STP-S29A payload?

The Space Test Program is the primary provider of spaceflight for DoD research, development, and demonstration payloads. STP-S29 missions bundle multiple experimental satellites and hosted payloads on a single vehicle, maximizing value from each launch. The "S" designation indicates a dedicated Space Test Program mission using a small launch vehicle.

These payloads typically test new technologies in areas such as space weather monitoring, communications, propulsion, and sensor demonstrations. Bundling them onto a single Minotaur IV keeps per-payload launch costs down while validating hardware in the actual orbital environment.

Why Vandenberg and SLC-8?

Vandenberg Space Force Base on California's Central Coast is the U.S. gateway to polar and high-inclination orbits, because rockets can fly south over the Pacific Ocean without overflying populated areas. Space Launch Complex 8, also known as the California Spaceport, is a small-vehicle pad that has hosted numerous Minotaur launches over the past two decades.

You can explore the exact orbital paths and current positions of satellites deployed from Vandenberg on our live 3D satellite map, and browse upcoming West Coast missions on the Vandenberg launch schedule.

How to follow the mission

With the STP-S29A payloads now in orbit, the satellites will begin commissioning and checkout over the coming days. Track newly cataloged objects and follow ongoing missions using these Cosmik tools:

• Full rocket launch schedule — every upcoming orbital launch worldwide
• Provider launch hubs and the latest launch news
• How to track satellites — a beginner's guide to following objects in orbit

Launch data for this recap is sourced from The Space Devs Launch Library. Background on the vehicle and site is available via Minotaur IV, Northrop Grumman, and Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Follow every launch live on Cosmik

Want to watch the next mission unfold in real time? Open Cosmik's free 3D live map to see satellites and rockets in orbit, check the launch tracker, and enable free launch alerts so you never miss a liftoff.