| Function | Prototype expendable launch system |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Martin Marietta |
| Country-origin | United States |
| Height | 42 metres (138 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.05 metres (10.0 ft) |
| Mass | 161,730 kilograms (356,550 lb) |
| Stages | 3 |
| Family | Titan |
| Status | retired |
| Sites | LC-20, Cape Canaveral |
| Launches | 4 |
| Success | 3 |
| Fail | 1 |
| First | 1 September 1964 |
| Last | 6 May 1965 |
| Location | LEO |
|---|---|
| Kilos | 3,100 kilograms (6,800 lb) |
| Stageno | First |
|---|---|
| Engines | 2 LR87-9 |
| Thrust | 1,941.7 kilonewtons (436,500 lbf) |
| Si | 304s |
| Burntime | 164 seconds |
| Fuel | N2O4 / Aerozine 50 |
| Stageno | Second |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1 LR91-9 |
| Thrust | 453.7 kilonewtons (102,000 lbf) |
| Si | 316 sec |
| Burntime | 184 seconds |
| Fuel | N2O4 / Aerozine 50 |
| Stageno | Third |
|---|---|
| Engines | 2 AJ10-138 |
| Thrust | 71 kilonewtons (16,000 lbf) |
| Si | 311 sec |
| Burntime | 440 seconds |
| Fuel | N2O4 / Aerozine 50 |
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 | Transtage test flight Transtage failed to pressurize | |
| 10 December 1964 16:52:33[3] | 3A-1[1] | N/A | Transtage test flight | |
| 11 February 1965 15:19:05[3] | 3A-3[1] | LES-1 | ||
| 6 May 1965 15:00:03[3] | 3A-4[1] | LES-2/LCS-1 |
References
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Titan-3A". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Titan". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on August 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Titan". Launch Vehicles Database. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- Krebs, Gunter (2016). "Titan IIIA Propulsion". b14643.eu. Archived October 30, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
- Kyle, Ed (1 February 2016). "Space Launch Report". spacelaunchreport.com. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
