 Launch of a Titan IIIE with Voyager 2 |
|
| Function | Expendable launch system |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Martin Marietta |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Size | |
| Height | 48 metres (160 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.05 metres (10.0 ft) |
| Mass | 632,970 kilograms (1,395,500 lb) |
| Stages | 3-4 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO |
15,400 kilograms (34,000 lb) |
| Payload to Heliocentric orbit (TMI) |
3,700 kilograms (8,200 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Titan |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | LC-41, Cape Canaveral |
| Total launches | 7 |
| Successes | 6 |
| Failures | 1 |
| Maiden flight | 15 June 1971 |
| Last flight | 5 September 1977 |
| Notable payloads | Voyager (1 / 2) Viking (1 / 2) Helios |
| Boosters (Stage 0) - UA1205 | |
| No boosters | Two |
| Engines | 1 solid |
| Thrust | 5,849 kilonewtons (1,315,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 263 sec |
| Burn time | 115 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
| First Stage | |
| Engines | 2 LR87-11 |
| Thrust | 2,340 kilonewtons (530,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 302 sec |
| Burn time | 147 seconds |
| Fuel | A-50/N2O4 |
| Second Stage | |
| Engines | 1 LR91-11 |
| Thrust | 454 kilonewtons (102,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 316 sec |
| Burn time | 205 seconds |
| Fuel | A-50/N2O4 |
| Third Stage - Centaur-D | |
| Engines | 2 RL-10A-3 |
| Thrust | 131 kilonewtons (29,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 444 sec |
| Burn time | 470 seconds |
| Fuel | LH2/LOX |
| Fourth Stage (optional) - Star-37E | |
| Engines | 1 solid |
| Thrust | 68 kilonewtons (15,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 284 sec |
| Burn time | 42 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
The Titan IIIE or Titan 3E, also known as Titan III-Centaur was an American expendable launch system, launched seven times between 1974 and 1977.[1] It was used to launch several high-profile NASA missions, including the Voyager and Viking planetary probes, and the joint West German-US Helios spacecraft.
The Titan IIIE was a three stage rocket, derived from the Titan IIID, but with the addition of a Centaur-D upper stage to increase performance. It was the first Titan rocket to use a Centaur upper stage, which would later be used on the Titan IV. A four stage configuration, with an additional upper stage, a Star-37E, was also available, and was used for the two Helios launches.[2] Star-37E stages were also used on the two Voyager launches, but were considered to be part of the payload rather than the rocket.[3]
All seven launches were conducted from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral.
Launch History
| Date/Time (GMT) | S/N | Payload | Outcome | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titan | Centaur | ||||
| 11 February 1974 13:48:02 |
23E-1 | TC-1 | Sphinx | Failure | Centaur LOX turbopump malfunction |
| 10 December 1974 07:11:02 |
23E-2 | TC-2 | Helios-1 | Successful | |
| 20 August 1975 21:22:00 |
23E-4 | TC-4 | Viking 1 | Successful | |
| 9 September 1975 18:39:00 |
23E-3 | TC-3 | Viking 2 | Successful | |
| 15 January 1976 05:34:00 |
23E-5 | TC-5 | Helios-2 | Successful | |
| 20 August 1977 14:29:44 |
23E-7 | TC-7 | Voyager 2 | Successful | |
| 5 September 1977 12:56:01 |
23E-6 | TC-6 | Voyager 1 | Successful | |
References
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Titan". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/titan.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Titan-3E Centaur-D1T Star-37E". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.htm?http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/titan-3e_centaur-d1t_star-37e.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Titan-3E Centaur-D1T". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.htm?http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/titan-3e_centaur-d1t.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
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