Titan IIIA

The Titan IIIA or Titan 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 a Titan IIIA in November 1965, carrying LES-1
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	2 LR87-9
Maximum thrust	1,941.7 kilonewtons (436,500 lbf)
Specific impulse	304s
Burn time	164 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / Aerozine 50
Second stage
Powered by	1 LR91-9
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	2 AJ10-138
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.

Launch history

Main article: List of Titan launches

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