MinotaurIV rocket launching ORS-5

An early morning launch from the space coast today. 2:04am local time (06:04UTC) queued the launch of a Minotaur IV rocket launching the ORS-5 into orbit.

Seen from Cocoa Village, this 106 second exposure shows the first stage burnout just before the rocket begins its arc, almost going out of frame.

This rocket moved quick!! Launching from SLC-46 (basically on the very tip of Cape Canaveral), it cleared the clouds quickly and rumbled itself down range. Super stoked with this one!

Note that this rocket is much smaller in size than say a SpaceX Falcon9 and only uses a single solid rocket booster that is stacked with four stages.

Done