Titan 23G

Titan 23G

The first Titan 23G prior to launch
Function Expendable launch system
Manufacturer Martin Marietta
Country of origin United States
Size
Height 31.4 meters (103 ft)
Diameter 3.05 meters (10.0 ft)
Mass 117,020 kilograms (257,980 lb)
Stages Two or Three
Capacity
Payload to LEO 3,600 kilograms (7,900 lb)
Payload to Polar LEO 2,177 kilograms (4,799 lb)
Payload to HCO 227 kilograms (500 lb)
Associated rockets
Family Titan
Launch history
Status Retired
Launch sites Vandenberg SLC-4W
Total launches 13
Successes 12
Failures 1
First flight 5 September 1988
Last flight 18 October 2003
Notable payloads Clementine
First stage
Engines LR-87 (one engine with two combustion chambers)
Thrust 1,900 kilonewtons (430,000 lbf)
Specific impulse 258 sec
Burn time 156 seconds
Fuel A-50/N2O4
Second stage
Engines 1 LR-91
Thrust 445 kilonewtons (100,000 lbf)
Specific impulse 316 sec
Burn time 180 seconds
Fuel A-50/N2O4
Third stage (Optional) - Star-37XFP-ISS
Engines 1 Solid
Thrust 38.03 kilonewtons (8,550 lbf)
Specific impulse 290 sec
Burn time 67 seconds
Fuel Solid
Third stage (Optional) - Star-37S
Engines 1 Solid
Specific impulse 287 sec
Fuel Solid

The Titan 23G, Titan II(23)G, Titan 2(23)G or Titan II SLV was an American expendable launch system derived from the LGM-25C Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile. Retired Titan II missiles were converted by Martin Marietta, into which the Glenn L. Martin Company, which built the original Titan II, had merged. It was used to carry payloads for the United States Air Force, NASA and NOAA. Thirteen were launched from Space Launch Complex 4W at the Vandenberg Air Force Base between 1988 and 2003.[1]

Titan 23G rockets consisted of two stages burning liquid propellant. The first stage was powered by one Aerojet LR87 engine with two combustion chambers and nozzles, and the second stage was propelled by an LR91. On some flights, solid upper stages were flown, usually the Star-37XFP-ISS; however, the Star-37S was also used.[1]

A contract to refurbish fourteen Titan II missiles to the Titan 23G configuration was awarded to Martin Marietta in January 1986. The first launch occurred on 5 September 1988, carrying a classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office. Thirteen were launched, with the fourteenth going to the Evergreen Aviation Museum.[2] The final flight occurred on 17 October 2003, carrying a DMSP satellite.[3]

During refurbishment, the forward structure of the second stage was modified with the addition of a payload attachment fitting to attach the payload to the rocket, and installing a payload fairing to protect it during launch. The engines were refurbished, and the rockets' guidance and control systems were upgraded by Delco Electronics.

The former Titan IIIB pad at Vandenberg, SLC-4W, was modified to accommodate the Titan 23G, and was used for all thirteen launches.

Launches

All launches of Titan II(23)G rockets took place from Space Launch Complex 4W at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Date/Time (UTC) Serial number Third Stage Payload Outcome Remarks
Rocket Stages
5 September 1988
09:25		 G-1 B-98/56 None USA-32 (Bernie) Successful
6 September 1989
01:48		 G-2 B-75/99 None USA-45 (Bernie) Successful Spacecraft failed immediately after launch
25 April 1992
08:53		 G-3 B-102 None USA-81 (Bernie) Successful
5 October 1993
17:56		 G-5 B-65 Star-37XFP-ISS Landsat 6 Failure[4] Star-37 failure, failed to achieve orbit[5]
25 January 1994
16:34		 G-11 B-89/67 None Clementine
DSPSE-ISA		 Successful
4 April 1997
16:47		 G-6 B-106 Star-37S-ISS USA-131 (DMSP-5D2 F-14) Successful
13 May 1998
15:52:04		 G-12 B-84/80 Star-37XFP-ISS NOAA-15 (NOAA-K) Successful Included oxygen tank from Titan II B-72
20 June 1999
02:15:00		 G-7 B-99/75 None QuikSCAT Successful
12 December 1999
17:36:01		 G-8 B-94/44 Star-37XFP-ISS USA-147 (DMSP-5D3 F-15) Successful
21 September 2000
10:22		 G-13 B-96/39 Star-37XFP-ISS NOAA-16 (NOAA-L) Successful
24 June 2002
18:23:04		 G-14 B-71/72 Star-37XFP-ISS NOAA-17 (NOAA-M) Successful Included oxygen tank from Titan II B-92
6 January 2003
14:19		 G-4 B-105 None Coriolis Successful
18 October 2003
16:17		 G-9 B-107 Star-37XFP-ISS USA-172 (DMSP-5D3 F-16) Successful Final Titan II launch

A fourteenth rocket, G-10, based on Titan II B-108, but incorporating an oxygen tank from B-80, was not launched and is preserved at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. The remaining 42 Titan II missiles were stored at Davis-Monthan AFB with most being broken up for salvage. Four were transferred to museums.

See also

Media related to Titan (rocket) at Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter. "Titan-2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  2. ↑ Kyle, Ed (2009-04-14). "Titan 23G Data Sheet". Space Launch Report. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  3. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Titan". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  4. ↑ Kyle, Ed. "Titan Launch History". Space Launch Report. p. 3. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Landsat 6". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
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