Jun 192010
Here’s the final layout for the Titan IIIM with the MOL payload. The Titan IIIM was, as might be surmised, a derivative of the Titan IIIC, with a stretched core and seven-segment (as opposed to five-segment) solid rocket boosters. While the Titan IIIM was not built, the seven-segment UA-1207 boosters were built and saw service on the Titan IV.
Irritatingly, I’ve never found an equivalent Titan IIIC/Dyna Soar drawing of equivalent quality, even though this drawing just isn’t that spectacular itself.
3 Responses to “Titan IIIM – MOL”
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Awesome photo of _almost_ this vehicle on the pad.
http://fr.academic.ru/pictures/frwiki/84/Titan-3C_MOL-Gemini-B-Test_1.jpg
This drawing, and similar ones, seem to show some slight differences in the core stage. Was the core stage supposed to be air started? Did the core engines have different, more bell-shaped nozzles and a fairing around the engine machinery because of that?
Scott would know more about this, but IIRC, some of the SRB boosted Titan II variants did indeed use an air-lit core stage.
What is interesting in the drawing is what’s _not_ shown… both the MOL and Dyna-Soar Titan III’s were to be equipped with blow-out vents on the SRB nosecones that would vent them if they were in danger of exploding due to too high internal casing pressure during their burn.
A similar system was considered for the Shuttle SRB’s, but it was decided the ET couldn’t handle the blast when the venting occurred.