Titan 3M - Credit: © Mark Wade. 4,477 bytes. 147 x 698 pixels.

Man-rated launch vehicle designed for MOL and other missions of the 1970's. Malfunction Detection System initiated abort procedures during launch. Also suited for launch of 'bulbous and lifting body payloads'. 7 segment UA1207 motors developed but not used until Titan 4 in 1990's. Cancelled with MOL program in 1969.

LEO Payload: 17,000 kg. to: 185 km Orbit. Liftoff Thrust: 1,307,380 kgf. Total Mass: 836,560 kg. Core Diameter: 3.1 m. Total Length: 39.0 m. Launch Price $: 22.00 million. in 1965 price dollars.

• Stage Number: 0. 2 x Titan UA1207 Gross Mass: 319,330 kg. Empty Mass: 51,230 kg. Thrust (vac): 725,732 kgf. Isp: 272 sec. Burn time: 120 sec. Isp(sl): 245 sec. Diameter: 3.1 m. Span: 3.1 m. Length: 34.1 m. Propellants: Solid No Engines: 1. UA1207

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Titan 3B-1 Gross Mass: 139,935 kg. Empty Mass: 7,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 246,077 kgf. Isp: 302 sec. Burn time: 161 sec. Isp(sl): 250 sec. Diameter: 3.1 m. Span: 3.1 m. Length: 24.0 m. Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50 No Engines: 2. LR-87-11

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Titan 3B-2 Gross Mass: 37,560 kg. Empty Mass: 2,900 kg. Thrust (vac): 46,939 kgf. Isp: 316 sec. Burn time: 230 sec. Isp(sl): 145 sec. Diameter: 3.1 m. Span: 3.1 m. Length: 8.6 m. Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50 No Engines: 1. LR-91-11

• MOL to be launched from Canaveral and Vandenberg Spacecraft: MOL.

  DoD revealed that newly-authorized Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program (announced by President Lyndon Johnson the same day) would be launched from both the Air Force Eastern and Western Test Ranges.

• First static test firing of Titan 3M SRB.

  First test firing of seven segment solid rocket booster motor for Titan 3M for MOL. The test at Coyote Canyon, California, generated 0.7 million kgf for two minutes.

• MOL 1 Spacecraft: Gemini B.

  The first unmanned Gemini-B/Titan 3M qualification flight was planned for late 1970 at the time the program was cancelled.

• MOL 2 Spacecraft: Gemini B.

  The second unmanned Gemini-B/Titan 3M qualification flight would have taken place in 1971 and set the stage for the first manned mission in 1971.

• MOL 3 Spacecraft: MOL.

  At the time of the cancellation of the MOL program in June 1969, the first manned mission was planned for early 1972. A crew of two would have spent thirty days in orbit operating sophisticated military reconnaisance equipment and other experiments. Walt Williams told Michael Cassutt that Jim Taylor would have commanded the first MOL flight, and given Williams's background in flight test operations, Mercury. and Gemini, that call was pretty much his at that time. As for the pilot, Al Crews, a holdover from the Dynasoar program, is considered by Cassutt as good a guess as any.

• MOL 4 Spacecraft: MOL.

  Planned date of second manned MOL mission at time of the program cancellation.

• MOL 5 Spacecraft: MOL.

  Planned date of third manned MOL mission at time of the program cancellation.

• MOL 6 Spacecraft: MOL.

  Planned date of fourth manned MOL mission at time of the program cancellation. From the beginning of the project, the Navy had demanded that this be an all-Navy crew, which would limit the crew to Truly, with either Overmeyer or Crippen as co-pilot.

• MOL 7 Spacecraft: MOL.

  Planned date of fifth manned MOL mission. This mission was already deleted from the FY 1970 budget request in April 1969, two months before the entire project was cancelled.

• 22 - Gatland, Kenneth, Manned Spacecraft, Macmillan, New York, 1968.
• 128 - Pealer, Donald, Quest, "Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)", Also 1996, Volume 5, Issue 2, page 16, 1995, Volume 4, Issue 4, page 28.
• 223 - Titan Marketing Brochure, Martin Company, 1967.