Which rockets use(d) solid-fuel upper stages?

Question

The Antares is unusual in that it's using solid-fuel in the second stage. I was surprised about that and a couple of questions immediately popped up which are already covered on this site: How can a solid-fuel stage control thrust and what are the advantages of using a solid-fuel upper-stage (no answers to that question at the time of this writing).

Since using a solid-fuel upper stage is unusual in a rocket that can achieve orbit, I was wondering whether there are other rockets besides the Antares that have used or are using this design?

@IlmariKaronen: Yes since it's capable of reaching orbit and the upper stages use solid-fuels. — DarkDust, Apr 18 '19 at 08:58

score 6 · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-04T08:41:24.613

6

Looks like this is going to be a list-based answer

Antares family (2013-) uses a Castor second stage
Black Arrow (1969-1971) used a waxwing third stage
Space Shuttle (1981-2011) has used Inertial Upper Stage and Payload Assist Module
Titan 34D (1982-1989) has used an Inertial Upper Stage
Pegasus has used the Star 27
Thor and Minotaur V have used the Star 37
Delta II, Delta IV Heavy and Minotaur IV have used the Star 48/(B)V
Jupiter-C / Juno-1 had two solid upper stages
Scout, first orbital launch 1961 Feb. 16: four stages, all solids
Epsilon (2014-) uses the M-35 second stage and KM-V2c third stage (with an optional hydrazine fourth stage) (the first three stages are all HTPB

edited Jun 04 '19 at 08:41

answered Apr 18 '19 at 09:21

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_solid-fuelled_orbital_launch_systems might be useful as source material. – Ilmari Karonen Apr 18 '19 at 09:41
Do kick stages really count? In principle any payload could use a solid kick stage. Main stages, like 2nd stage seem more relevant. However third stages get murky. – geoffc Apr 18 '19 at 14:29
2

“Kick stage” is technically meaningless. – Russell Borogove Apr 18 '19 at 14:59

Which rockets use(d) solid-fuel upper stages?

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