From Swords into Plowshares: The Titan Launch Vehicles

Article

“From Swords into Plowshares: The Titan Launch Vehicles” by Anthony Young
Published in Quest Volume: 32 #3 (2025)

Abstract

The post-World War II period saw the initiation of research and development of Intermediate Range and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in the United States. The Atlas and Titan ICBMs were the land-based national defense systems deployed starting in the late 1950s. The Titan ICBMs formed the basis of a family of space launch vehicles, which are the focus of this article.

The Atlas and Titan II ICBMs were modified to support NASA’s human spaceflight Mercury and Gemini programs. The US Air Force studied configurations of modified Titan IIs to launch military payloads, resulting in the Titan III having two matching-diameter solid propellant boosters. Titan IIIs with a variety of upper stages including the cryogenic Centaur were launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The upgraded Titan IV was the last iteration of the Titan launch vehicles.

Citation

Young, Anthony. “From Swords into Plowshares: The Titan Launch Vehicles.” Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly 32, no. 3 (2025): 26-40.