April 7, 2026 11:33 am

STP-S29A

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Minotaur IV

Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
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April 7, 2026 11:33 am

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Last Updated:

2026-07-18 04:36:01

STP-S29A is a mission under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Space Test Program (STP) that will deliver technology demonstrations to orbit and contribute to future space system development, with this launch delivering up to 200 kg of STP cubesats to Low Earth Orbit. The main payload will be STPSat-7, an ESPA class satellite based on the Aegis Aerospace M-1 satellite bus used on the STPSat-4 mission for hosting research and technology demonstration payloads for the Department of Defense (DoD). One of the payload is U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Lightsheet Anomaly Resolution and Debris Observation (LARADO) instrument, used to detect and characterize lethal non-trackable orbital debris with lasers in orbit.
Launch Overview
Window Open 11:30 UTC
Window Close 16:30 UTC
Lift Off Apr 7, 2026 · 11:33 UTC
Launch Facility Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Launch Pad Space Launch Complex 8
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Payload STP-S29A
Rocket Minotaur IV
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
STP-S29A is a mission under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Space Test Program (STP) that will deliver technology demonstrations to orbit and contribute to future space system development, with this launch delivering up to 200 kg of STP cubesats to Low Earth Orbit. The main payload will be STPSat-7, an ESPA class satellite based on the Aegis Aerospace M-1 satellite bus used on the STPSat-4 mission for hosting research and technology demonstration payloads for the Department of Defense (DoD). One of the payload is U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Lightsheet Anomaly Resolution and Debris Observation (LARADO) instrument, used to detect and characterize lethal non-trackable orbital debris with lasers in orbit.

Height

LEO Payload

Total Launches

Status

Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Space Launch Complex 8
Launch Overview
Window Open 11:30 UTC
Window Close 16:30 UTC
Lift Off Apr 7, 2026 · 11:33 UTC
Launch Facility Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Launch Pad Space Launch Complex 8
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Payload STP-S29A
Rocket Minotaur IV
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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