Titan IIIC | LES 8, 9 & Solrad 11A, 11B
Launch Successful
L - -- : -- : -- : --
Instantaneous launch window.
Launch Window
March 15, 1976, 1:25 a.m. - March 15, 1976, 1:25 a.m.
Instantaneous launch window.
March 15, 1976, 1:25 a.m. - March 15, 1976, 1:25 a.m.
LES 8 and 9 were experimental nuclear-powered geostationary communications satellites. Solrad 11A and 11B were scientific satellites designed to monitor the solar X-ray, UV and energetic particle emissions.
The Titan IIIC was an expendable launch system used by the United States Air Force from 1965 until 1982. It was the first Titan booster to feature large solid rocket motors and was planned to be used as a launcher for the Dyna-Soar, though the spaceplane was cancelled before it could fly. The majority of the launcher's payloads were DoD satellites, for military communications and early warning, though one flight (ATS-6) was performed by NASA. The Titan IIIC was launched exclusively from Cape Canaveral while its sibling, the Titan IIID, was launched only from Vandenberg AFB.
Lockheed Martin's Space Division started in the production of missiles and later ICBM's in the 1950s. Their TITAN missile system was used for 12 Gemini spacecraft and the Voyager probes. They have worked largely in collaboration with NASA on many of their probes, landers, and spacecraft, and hope to play a key role in NASA's return to the moon in 2024.
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