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| Titan 3C - Titan 3C - COSPAR 1965-047 13,568 bytes. 117 x 460 pixels. |
Titan 3A with five segment solid motors.
Launches: 36. Failures: 5. Success Rate: 86.11% pct. First Launch Date: 18 June 1965. Last Launch Date: 06 March 1982. LEO Payload: 13,100 kg. to: 185 km Orbit. Payload: 3,000 kg. to a: Geosynchronous transfer trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 1,079,550 kgf. Total Mass: 626,190 kg. Core Diameter: 3.1 m. Total Length: 42.0 m. Launch Price $: 18.00 million. in 1965 price dollars. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 66.70 million. in 1985 unit dollars.
The ARPA-NASA Booster Evaluation Committee appointed by Herbert F. York, DOD Director of Defense Research and Engineering, April 15, 1959, convened to review plans for advanced launch vehicles. A comparison of the Saturn (C-1) and the Titan-C boosters showed that the Saturn, with its substantially greater payload capacity, would be ready at least one year sooner than the Titan-C. In addition, the cost estimates on the Titan-C proved to be unrealistic. On the basis of the Advanced Research Projects Agency presentation, York agreed to continue the Saturn program but, following the meeting, began negotiations with NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan to transfer the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (and, therefore, Saturn ) to NASA.
Successful firing of a solid-propellant rocket motor using "building block" method was announced by NASA.
Segmented solid-propellent rocket engine fired by United Technology Corp. at Sunnyvale, generating over 200,000 pounds of thrust in 80-second firing. Developed under NASA contract, center section of engine contained over 55,000 pounds of propellant, the largest single piece yet manufactured in the United States.
In a memorandum to D. Brainerd Holmes, Director, Office of Manned Space Flight (OMSF), Milton W. Rosen, Director of Launch Vehicles and Propulsion, OMSF, described the organization of a working group to recommend to the Director a large launch vehicle program which would meet the requirements of manned space flight and which would have broad and continuing national utility for other NASA and DOD programs. The group would include members from the NASA Office of Launch Vehicles and Propulsion (Rosen, Chairman, Richard B. Canright, Eldon W. Hall, Elliott Mitchell, Norman Rafel, Melvyn Savage, and Adelbert O. Tischler); from the Marshall Space Flight Center (William A. Mrazek, Hans H. Maus, and James B. Bramlet); and from the NASA Office of Spacecraft and Flight Missions (John H. Disher). (David M. Hammock of MSC was later added to the group.) The principal background material to be used by the group would consist of reports of the Large Launch Vehicle Planning Group (Golovin Committee), the Fleming Committee, the Lundin Committee, the Heaton Committee, and the Debus-Davis Committee. Some of the subjects the group would be considering were:
On the basis of a report of the Large Launch Vehicle Planning Group, Robert C. Seamans, Jr., NASA Associate Administrator, and John H. Rubel, Department of Defense Deputy Director for Defense Research and Engineering, recommended to Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara that the weapon system of the Titan II, with minimal modifications, be approved for the Mercury Mark II rendezvous mission. The planning group had first met in August 1961 to survey the Nation's launch vehicle program and was recalled in November to consider Titan II, Titan II-1/2, and Titan III. On November 16, McNamara and NASA Administrator James E. Webb had also begun discussing the use of Titan II.
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With continued weight growth USAF announces Titan III to be developed for Dynasoar orbital missions.
The Department of Defense announced plans to develop a Titan III launch vehicle powered by both solid and liquid fuel rocket motors with a total thrust of over 11 million newtons (2.5 million Ibs). .Scheduled to become operational in 1965, the Titan III would be used to launch the Air Force's X-20 (Dyna Soar) manned spacecraft, as well as heavy unmanned military satellites. Martin Marietta Corporation had been selected as prime contractor for the project, at an estimated cost of between $500 million and $1 billion. At a news conference the following day, Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara cited the Titan III as a major step toward overtaking the Soviet Union in various phases of military space development.
McNamara announces start of MOL, cancellation of Dynasoar.
Secretary of the Air Force Eugene M. Zuckert announced that three firms, Douglas Aircraft Company, General Electric Company, and The Martin Company, had received authorization to begin work on space station studies. Zuckert predicted also that the Titan III would be test-flown that summer and would launch the Manned Orbiting Laboratory sometime in 1967 or 1968.
Launch vehicle test. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Dual launch with LCS 2; upper stage broke up. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Dual launch with OV2-1; upper stage broke up.
 | Titan 3C Credit: © Mark Wade. 4,929 bytes. 166 x 668 pixels. |
Upper stage separation failed. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Radio signal source for commsat tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
OSCAR IV was launched piggyback with three United States Air Force satellites. The launch vehicle had a partial failure and placed the spacecraft in a low orbit preventing widespread amateur use. Orbit 29120 x 168 km. Inclination 26.8 degrees. Period 587.5 minutes. Weight 18.1 kg. Four monopole antennas. OSCAR IV was built by the TRW Radio Club of Redondo Beach, California. It had a 3 Watt 10 kHz wide linear transponder (144 MHz uplink and 432 MHz downlink). In operation until March 16, 1966. Re-entry April 12, 1976. Total operation 85 days. OSCAR IV provided the first US-Soviet amateur link.
Start of construction (site preparation) for Space Launch Complex 6 facilities at former Sudden Ranch property.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
 | Titan 3 Small Credit: © Mark Wade. 1,254 bytes. 64 x 264 pixels. |
8 satellites, each weighing 45 kg.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Whispering gallery experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Whispering gallery experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
This modified Titan 2 propellant tank represented the MOL station itself. It allowed study of the aerodynamic loads associated with launching the MOL into orbit and validated the very long length to diameter core represented by the MOL/Titan 3M configuration. It is possible certain prototype MOL equipment was flown as well.
During the ascent to orbit, the Gemini capsule atop the MOL Cannister was ejected and made a suborbital reentry and splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. The spacecraft was the Gemini 2 reentry module, reused to test reentry with hatch cut into the heat shield. The capsule was successfully recovered and it was found that the reentry actually melted hatch shut, indicating that the design was valid for MOL.
 | Titan 3 LV with X-20 - The original mission of the Titan 3 booster was to launch the X-20 Dynasoar manned spaceplane into orbit. Credit: © Mark Wade. 5,194 bytes. 164 x 715 pixels. |
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Radiation research. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Materials research; deployed ERS 27. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Radiation research; deployed ERS 20. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Gravity gradient experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
 | Titan LVs Small Credit: © Mark Wade. 5,757 bytes. 373 x 293 pixels. |
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Experimental commsat. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Environmental research. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Experimental commsat. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
 | Titan 3 with X-20 - Titan 3 with X-20 Large Credit: © Mark Wade. 1,436 bytes. 71 x 265 pixels. |
Examined heat transfer in liquids in zero-g. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Particle radiation data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Experimental commsat. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Solar flare particle detectors. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
VLF plasma wave detection. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Radiation, low-energy particle, solar flare data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Department of Defense announced cancellation of the planned Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program from Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg AFB. The cancellation was expected to save $ 1.5 billion of the projected total $ 3.0 billion program costs. The SLC-6 launch facility at Vandenberg, 90% complete, would be finished and mothballed. MOL reconnaisance systems useful on unmanned satellites would be completed for a total cost of $ 225 million. Ten thousand aerospace workers were laid off as a result of the cancellation.
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
First generation DSP; incorrect orbit. Exhausted fuel before could be put into operation.
First generation DSP. First operational satellite.
Defense Satellite Communications System. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Defense Satellite Communications System. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
First generation DSP.
Defense Satellite Communications System; 13 deg W. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Defense Satellite Communications System; 175 deg E. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Application Technology Satellite; experimental commsat. - Also conducted Cesium ion engine test.
Unusable orbit. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Unusable orbit. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication. Also tested pulsed plasma engines.
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication. Also tested pulsed plasma engines.
Solar radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Solar radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Launched with DSCS F10.
First launch of the heavier, mored advanced CHALET ELINT satellites. (the project was renamed VORTEX when the code name CHALET appeared in the New York Times).
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Chalet ELINT satellite.
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).
Chalet ELINT satellite.