Titan IIIA

American expendable launch system
Launch of the first Titan IIIA
FunctionPrototype expendable launch system
ManufacturerMartin Marietta
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height42 metres (138 ft)
Diameter3.05 metres (10.0 ft)
Mass161,730 kilograms (356,550 lb)
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass3,100 kilograms (6,800 lb)
Associated rockets
FamilyTitan
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesLC-20, Cape Canaveral
Total launches4
Success(es)3
Failure(s)1
First flight1 September 1964
Last flight6 May 1965
First stage
Powered by2 LR87-9
Maximum thrust1,941.7 kilonewtons (436,500 lbf)
Specific impulse304s
Burn time164 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / Aerozine 50
Second stage
Powered by1 LR91-9
Maximum thrust453.7 kilonewtons (102,000 lbf)
Specific impulse316 sec
Burn time184 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / Aerozine 50
Third stage – Transtage
Powered by2 AJ10-138
Maximum thrust71 kilonewtons (16,000 lbf)
Specific impulse311 sec
Burn time440 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / Aerozine 50
[edit on Wikidata]

The Titan IIIA or Titan 3A was an American expendable launch system, launched four times in 1964 and 1965,[1] to test the Transtage upper stage which was intended for use on the larger Titan IIIC. The Transtage was mounted atop two core stages derived from the Titan II. The Titan IIIA was also used as the core of the Titan IIIC.

Part of the Titan rocket family, the Titan IIIA made its first flight on 1 September 1964. However, the Transtage failed to pressurize, resulting in a premature cutoff and failure to reach orbit.[2] A second test on 10 December was successful. Two further launches occurred in 1965 with Lincoln Experimental Satellites, before the Titan IIIA was retired.

Launch history

Date/time (GMT) S/N Payload Outcome Remarks
1 September 1964
15:00:06[3] 		3A-2[1] N/A Failure Transtage test flight
Transtage failed to pressurize
10 December 1964
16:52:33[3] 		3A-1[1] N/A Success Transtage test flight
11 February 1965
15:19:05[3] 		3A-3[1] LES-1 Success
6 May 1965
15:00:03[3] 		3A-4[1] LES-2/LCS-1 Success

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Krebs, Gunter. "Titan-3A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  2. ^ Wade, Mark. "Titan". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on August 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  3. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan. "Titan". Launch Vehicles Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  • Krebs, Gunter (2016). "Titan IIIA Propulsion". www.b14643.de. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  • Kyle, Ed (1 February 2016). "Space Launch Report". spacelaunchreport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2017.

External links

Media related to Titan IIIA at Wikimedia Commons

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