Titan IIIB

Titan IIIB
Titan-3B Agena-D launching the KH-8 5 reconnaissance satellite from Vandenberg AFB, CA. (USAF)
FunctionMedium launch vehicle
ManufacturerMartin
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height45 m (148 ft)
Diameter3.05 m (10.0 ft)
Mass156,540 kg (345,110 lb)
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass3,300 kg (7,300 lb) (23B)
Associated rockets
FamilyTitan
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sitesSLC-4W, Vandenberg AFB
Total launches68
Success(es)62
Failure(s)4
Partial failure(s)2
First flight29 July 1966
Last flight12 February 1987
First stage (Titan 23B/33B)
Powered by2 LR87-AJ-5
Maximum thrust1,913 kN (430,000 lbf)
Burn time147 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / Aerozine 50
Second stage
Powered by1 LR87-AJ-5
Maximum thrust445 kN (100,000 lbf)
Burn time205 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / Aerozine 50
Third stage – Agena D
Powered by1 Bell XLR81-BA-9
Maximum thrust71.7 kN (16,100 lbf)
Burn time240 seconds
PropellantIRFNA/UDMH

Titan IIIB was the collective name for a number of derivatives of the Titan II ICBM and Titan III launch vehicle, modified by the addition of an Agena upper stage. It consisted of five separate rockets.[1] The Titan-3B Agena-D was a basic Titan IIIA with an Agena D upper stage. The Titan 23B was a basic Titan II with an Agena upper stage, and the Titan 24B was the same concept, but using the slightly enlarged Titan IIIM rocket as the base. The Titan 33B was a Titan 23B with the Agena (which had a smaller diameter than the Titan) enclosed in an enlarged fairing, in order to allow larger payloads to be launched. The final member of the Titan IIIB family was the Titan 34B which was a Titan 24B with the larger fairing used on the Titan 33B.

  1. ^ "Titan Family". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2024-09-12.