Titan IIIA
Encyclopedia
The Titan IIIA or Titan 3A was an American
expendable launch system
, launched four times in 1964 and 1965, 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.
The Titan IIIA made its maiden flight on 1 September 1964, but the Transtage failed to pressurise, resulting in a premature cutoff, and failure to reach orbit. A second test on 10 December was successful. Two further launches occurred in 1965 with Lincoln Experimental Satellite
s, before the Titan IIIA was retired.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
expendable launch system
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
, launched four times in 1964 and 1965, to test the Transtage
Transtage
Transtage was an American upper stage used on Titan III rockets. 40 were launched, of which three failed.The first launch, boosted by a Titan IIIA carrier rocket, occurred on 1 September 1964. The Transtage failed to pressurise, resulting in premature engine cutoff, and a failure to reach orbit....
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.
The Titan IIIA made its maiden flight on 1 September 1964, but the Transtage failed to pressurise, resulting in a premature cutoff, and failure to reach orbit. A second test on 10 December was successful. Two further launches occurred in 1965 with Lincoln Experimental Satellite
Lincoln Experimental Satellite
Lincoln Experimental Satellite refers to a series of satellites designed and built by Lincoln Laboratory at MIT between 1965 and 1976, under USAF sponsorship, for testing devices and techniques for satellite communication....
s, before the Titan IIIA was retired.
Launch history
| Date/Time (GMT) | S/N | Payload | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 1964 15:00:06 |
3A-2 | N/A | Failure | Transtage test flight Transtage failed to pressurise |
| 10 December 1964 16:52:33 |
3A-1 | N/A | Successful | Transtage test flight |
| 11 February 1965 15:19:05 |
3A-3 | LES-1 Lincoln Experimental Satellite Lincoln Experimental Satellite refers to a series of satellites designed and built by Lincoln Laboratory at MIT between 1965 and 1976, under USAF sponsorship, for testing devices and techniques for satellite communication.... |
Successful | |
| 6 May 1965 15:00:03 |
3A-4 | LES-2 Lincoln Experimental Satellite Lincoln Experimental Satellite refers to a series of satellites designed and built by Lincoln Laboratory at MIT between 1965 and 1976, under USAF sponsorship, for testing devices and techniques for satellite communication.... /LCS-1 |
Successful |