Titan

by Jean-Jacques Serra
Origins of Titan

Titan without top stage (2)

Titan 3

Titan 4


Origin: Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) of second generation

As building ICBMs was a very risky venture, it was decided in 1955 to develop another two-stage missille despite Atlas. This contract was awarded to the Martin Company (then Martin Marietta, then Lockheed Martin).

The first stage of 3.05 m diameter like Atlas were planned to be powered by two Aerojet LR-87 which delivered 1335 kN thrust at takeoff. The second stage of 2.44 m diameter was made of 1 Aerojet LR-91 motor of 356 kN. The two stages burned the same fuel: liquid oxygen and kerosene. The missile was 29.9 m high (with a Mk4 RV) and weighed 99.8 tons.

For the first launch on 9 Feb 1959 the missile had only 1 stage active, the second was full of water. Enhancements of the motors were started the following month and the version 3 (simplified and lighter) flew in May 1960. Titan 1 was deployed in silos from 1962 to 1965 but not space launcher was derived from it.

The reaction time of the Titan 1's evaluated to 15 minutes could be reducted to only 1 minute by replacing its propellant by stockable propellant. The studies started in 1960 and resulted in Titan 2. This is an enhanced vehicle with a doubled payload/range ratio. The 2 stages measuring respectivly 21.4 m and 12.2 m long had a uniform 3.05 m diameter. The motors were modified (5th version) and used Nitrogen TetraOxide and Aerozine 50. Titan 2 was 31.4 m high (with a Mk6 RV) and weighed 150 tons.

The missile was operational in March 1962 and deployed in silos from 1964 to 1987.

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Titan propulsion system

Designation	Year of first launch	LR 87 thrust (kN)	LR 87 SI (sec)	LR 91 thrust (kN)	LR 91 SI (sec)	Application
1-3	1959-1961	1335 (g)	249 (g)	356	311	Titan 1
5	1962	1910 (g)	259 (g)	445	315	Titan 2
7	1964	1910 (g)	259 (g)	445	315	Gemini
9	1964	1910 (g) / 2030 (v)	259 (g) / 275 (v)	445	316	Titan 3
11	1968	2045 (g) / 2350 (v)	258 (g) / 302 (v)	445	316	Titan 3
11A	1989	2440 (v)	301 (v)	467	316	Titan 4

(g): ground value; (v): vacuum value

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