Titan 3M
Titan 3M
Credit - © Mark Wade
Orbital launch vehicle. Year: 1971. Family: Titan. Country: USA. Status: Development ended 1967.

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.

Manufacturer: Martin. LEO Payload: 17,000 kg (37,000 lb). to: 185 km Orbit. Associated Spacecraft: MOL, Gemini Ferry. Liftoff Thrust: 12,821.000 kN (2,882,275 lbf). Total Mass: 836,560 kg (1,844,290 lb). Core Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Total Length: 39.00 m (127.00 ft). Launch Price $: 22.000 million. in: 1965 price dollars.


Stage Data - Titan 3M
  • Stage Number: 0. 2 x Stage: Titan UA1207 . Gross Mass: 319,330 kg (704,000 lb). Empty Mass: 51,230 kg (112,940 lb). Thrust (vac): 7,116.999 kN (1,599,965 lbf). Isp: 272 sec. Burn time: 120 sec. Isp(sl): 245 sec. Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Span: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Length: 34.14 m (112.00 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: UA1207.
  • Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Titan 3B-1. Gross Mass: 139,935 kg (308,503 lb). Empty Mass: 7,000 kg (15,400 lb). Thrust (vac): 2,413.191 kN (542,507 lbf). Isp: 302 sec. Burn time: 161 sec. Isp(sl): 250 sec. Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Span: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Length: 23.99 m (78.70 ft). Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50. No Engines: 2. Engine: LR-87-11.
  • Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: Titan 3B-2. Gross Mass: 37,560 kg (82,800 lb). Empty Mass: 2,900 kg (6,300 lb). Thrust (vac): 460.314 kN (103,483 lbf). Isp: 316 sec. Burn time: 230 sec. Isp(sl): 145 sec. Diameter: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Span: 3.05 m (10.00 ft). Length: 8.60 m (28.20 ft). Propellants: N2O4/Aerozine-50. No Engines: 1. Engine: LR-91-11.

Titan 3M Chronology

1965 August 25 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.

  • MOL to be launched from Canaveral and Vandenberg Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Space station. 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. References: 88.
1969 April 27 - Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.
  • First static test firing of Titan 3M SRB. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. 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. References: 128.
1970 Late - Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.
  • MOL 1 Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. The first unmanned Gemini-B/Titan 3M qualification flight was planned for late 1970 at the time the program was cancelled. References: 128.
1971 - Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.
  • MOL 2 Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. 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. References: 128.
1972 Early - Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.
  • MOL 3 (cancelled) Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. Flight Crew: Taylor, Crews. Flight: MOL 3. 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. References: 128.
1972 Late - Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.
  • MOL 4 (cancelled) Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. Flight: MOL 4. Planned date of second manned MOL mission at time of the program cancellation. References: 128.
1973 - Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.
  • MOL 5 (cancelled) Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. Flight: MOL 5. Planned date of third manned MOL mission at time of the program cancellation. References: 128.
1974 - Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.
  • MOL 6 (cancelled) Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. Flight Crew: Truly, Crippen. Flight: MOL 6. 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. References: 128.
1975 - Launch Vehicle: Titan 3M.
  • MOL 7 (cancelled) Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. Flight: MOL 7. 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. References: 128.

Bibliography and Further Reading
  • Gatland, Kenneth, Manned Spacecraft, Macmillan, New York, 1968. ISBN: 0025428209. First of a marvelous series of pocket-size hardbacks covering spacecraft and rocketry. More at amazon.com...
  • Pealer, Donald, Quest, "Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)", Also 1996, Volume 5, Issue 2, page 16, 1995, Volume 4, Issue 4, page 28.
  • Titan Marketing Brochure, Martin Company, 1967.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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