The Titan IIIAorTitan 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.
Launch of the first Titan IIIA
| |
| Function | Prototype expendable launch system |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Martin Marietta |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 42 metres (138 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.05 metres (10.0 ft) |
| Mass | 161,730 kilograms (356,550 lb) |
| Stages | 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 3,100 kilograms (6,800 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Titan |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | LC-20, Cape Canaveral |
| Total launches | 4 |
| Success(es) | 3 |
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight | 1 September 1964 |
| Last flight | 6 May 1965 |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 2LR87-9 |
| Maximum thrust | 1,941.7 kilonewtons (436,500 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 304s |
| Burn time | 164 seconds |
| Propellant | N2O4 / Aerozine 50 |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 1LR91-9 |
| Maximum thrust | 453.7 kilonewtons (102,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 316 sec |
| Burn time | 184 seconds |
| Propellant | N2O4 / Aerozine 50 |
| Third stage – Transtage | |
| Powered by | 2AJ10-138 |
| Maximum thrust | 71 kilonewtons (16,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 311 sec |
| Burn time | 440 seconds |
| Propellant | N2O4 / Aerozine 50 |
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.
| 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 |
Media related to Titan IIIA at Wikimedia Commons
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