Air Force Bases

Titan II Timeline


1958

July - USAF reviews improvements (inertial guidance, storable fuel, 1x9 basing, 10-ft 2nd stage diameter, in silo launch) to Titan I that leads to the Titan 2.

September - Scientific Advisory Committee of Ballistic Missiles is informed  by  the USAF that storable liquid missile propellants are feasible.


1959

January 19 - Major General Schriever approves conversion of future Titan facilities from silo-lift to in-silo launch.


1960

June - Martin awarded a contract to develop the SM-68B Titan 2.


1961

January 13 - USAF changes Dynasoar launch vehicle to Titan 2.

October - Titan 2 to be selected as the launch vehicle for NASA's advanced Mercury (later became Gemini).

December 26 - Dynasoar suborbital tests deleted from program. This eliminated the need for Titan 2 as a Dynasoar sub-orbital launch vehicle.

December 28 - Titan 2 first static ground test. Titan 2 was successfully captive-fired for the first time at the Martin Co.'s Denver facilities.


1962

January 1 - 390th SMW and 570th SMS activated at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.

January 3 - The NASA Manned Spacecraft Center issued a Statement of Work for the procurement of fifteen Titan 2 launch vehicles by the Air Force Space Systems Division for the Gemini program. The USAF procured the Titan 2's from the Martin Company for NASA.

March 1 - 381st SMW and 532nd SMS activated at McConnell AFB, Kansas.

March 16 - Titan 2 ICBM first full-scale test with Mk 6 RV. Titan 2 #N-2 launched from Cape Canaveral. LC16. Apogee: 1,300 km. It flew 8000 km downrange over the Atlantic Missile Range.

April 1 - 308th SMW and 373rd SMS activated at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas.

May 1 - 571st SMS activated within the 390th SMW at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.

May 21 - NASA issued Amendment No. 6 to the Gemini launch vehicle procurement contract assigned $2.609 million to fund the construction necessary to convert pad 19 at Cape Canaveral for Gemini flights. Work was completed and pad 19 was activated on October 17, 1963.

May 23 - Avco proposal for a space station. Avco's proposed station design comprised three separate tubes about 3 m in diameter and 6 m long, launched separately aboard Titan 2s and joined in a triangular shape in orbit. A standard Gemini spacecraft was to serve as ferry vehicle.

June 7 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV Titan 2 #N-1 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

July 11 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV Titan I2 #N-6 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

July 25 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV Titan 2 #N-4 Cape Canaveral. LC16. Apogee: 1,300 km.

August 1 - 533rd SMS activated within th 381st SMW at McConnell AFB, Kansas.

Sep 1 - 374th SMS activated within the 308th SMW at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas

Sep 12 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV. Carried decoys Titan 2 #N-5 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Oct 12 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV Titan 2 #N-9 Cape Canaveral. LC16. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Oct 26 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV. Titan 2 #N-12 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Dec 6 - Titan 2 test with Mk 4 RV Titan 2 #N-11 Cape Canaveral. LC16. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Dec 19 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV Titan 2 #N-13 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.


1963

Jan 10 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV Titan2 #N-15 Cape Canaveral. LC16. Apogee: 500 km.

Feb 6 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV. First all SAC launch Titan 2 #N-16 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Feb 16 - First West Coast launch of a Titan 2 ICBM from an underground silo. Failure. Titan 2 #N-7 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 5 km.

Mar 21 - Titan 2 test with Mk 6 RV Titan 2 #N-18 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Apr 19 - Titan 2 #N-21 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 500 km. R&D.

Apr 27 - First successful silo launch Titan 2 #N-8 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.

May 9 - Titan 2 #N-14 Cape Canaveral. LC16. Apogee: 1,000 km. R&D.

May 13 - Titan 2 #N-19 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

May 24 - Titan 2 #N-17 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

May 29 - Titan 2 Flight Failed 55 seconds after launch.. Titan 2 #N-20 Cape Canaveral. LC: LC16. Apogee: 2 km.

Jun 20 - Titan 2 #N-22 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Aug 21  - Titan 2 Flight Titan 2 #N-24 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Sep 23 - Titan 2 #N-23 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Nov 1 - Titan 2 Flight Titan 2 #N-25 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Nov 9 - Titan 2 #N-27 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Dec 12 - Titan 2 #N-29 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Dec 16 - Titan 2 #N-28 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Dec 31 - All 54 Titan 2 ICBM's declared operational.


1964

Jan 15 - Titan 2 #N-31 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Jan 23 - Titan 2 #N-26 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Feb 17 - Titan 2 #B-15 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Feb 26 - Titan 2 #N-32 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Mar 13 - Titan 2 #N-30 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Mar 24 - Titan 2 # N-33 Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km. R&D.

Apr 8 - Titan 2 GLV GT-1 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Orbital test of Gemini-1.

Apr 9 - 33rd and last Titan 2 research and development flight. Titan 2 #N-3A Cape Canaveral. LC15. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Jul 30 - Spare Gemini launch vehicles 13, 14, and 15 were canceled, and there were no current plans for Gemini missions beyond the approved 12-flight program.

Jul 30 - Titan 2 #B-28 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. DASO.

Aug 11 - Titan 2 #B-9 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. DASO.

Aug 13 - Titan 2 #B-7 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. DASO.

Oct 2 - Titan 2 #B-1 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. DASO.

Nov 4 - Titan 2 #B-32 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. DASO.


1965

Jan 19 - Gemini 2 Titan 2 GLV GT-2 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Apogee: 169 km.

Mar 23 - Titan 2 GLV GT-3 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 3, first manned Gemini mission. Grissom - Young.

Mar 24 - Titan 2 #B-60 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Apr 16 - Titan 2 #B-45 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Apr 30 - Titan 2 #B-54 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

May 21 - Titan 2 #B-51 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Jun 3 - Titan 2 GLV GT-4 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 4, 2nd manned Gemini mission. McDivitt - White.

Jun 14 - Titan 2 #B-22 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Jun 30 - Titan 2 #B-30 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Jul 21 - Titan 2 #B-62 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Aug 9 -  Accident at Titan 2 Silo 373-4, Little Rock AFB, AK. kills 53 men. A fire started in the silo during construction work. The resulting smoke and fire killed 53 workers. Two workers survived. The Titan 2 missile was fueled and in the silo but did not explode. The RV/Warhead had been removed from the site prior to construction starting. Complex off alert for next 13 months during accident investigation and repairs.

Aug 16 - Titan 2 #B-6 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Aug 21 - Titan 2 GLV GT-5 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 5, 3rd manned Gemini mission. Cooper - Conrad.

Aug 25 - Titan 2 #B-19 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Sep 21 - Titan 2 #B-58 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Oct 20 - Titan 2 #B-33 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Nov 27 - Titan 2 #B-20 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Nov 30 - Titan 2 #B-4 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Dec 4 - Titan 2 GLV GT-7 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 7, 4th manned Gemini mission. Borman - Lovell.

Dec 15 - Titan 2 GLV GT-6 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 6, 5th manned Gemini mission. Schirra - Stafford.

Dec 22 - Titan 2 #B-73 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.


1966

Feb 3 - Titan 2 #B-87 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Feb 17 - Titan 2 #B-61 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Mar 16 - Titan 2 GLV GT-8 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 8, 6th manned Gemini mission. Armstrong - Scott.

Mar 25 - Titan 2 #B-16 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Apr 5 - Titan 2 #B-50 Vandenberg. LC: 395-D. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

Apr 20 - Titan 2 #B-55 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. OT.

May 24 - Titan 2 #B-91 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Jun 3 - Titan 2 GLV GT-9 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 9, 7th manned Gemini mission. Stafford - Cernan.

Jul 18 - Titan 2 GLV GT-10 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 10, 8th manned Gemini mission. Young - Collins.

Jul 22 - Titan 2 #B-95 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. ST.

Sep 12 - Titan 2 GLV GT-11 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 11, 9th manned Gemini mission. Conrad - Gordon.

Sep 16 - Titan 2 #B-40 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Nov 11 - Titan 2 GLV GT-12 Cape Canaveral. LC19. Gemini 12, 10th and last manned Gemini mission. Lovell - Aldrin.

Nov 24 - Titan 2 #B-68 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.


1967

Mar 17 - Titan 2 #B-76 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Apr 12 - Titan 2 #B-81 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Jun 23 - Titan 2 #B-70 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Sep 11 - Titan 2 GB44 Titan 2 #B-21 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.


1968

Feb 28 - Titan 2 GT04T Titan 2 #B-88 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Apr 2 - Titan 2 GT10T Titan 2 #B-36 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Jun 12 - Titan 2 GT08T Titan 2 #B-82 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Aug 21 - Titan 2 GT18T Titan 2 #B-53 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.

Nov 19 - Titan 2 GT26T Titan 2 #B-3 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.


1969

May 20 - Titan 2 GT39T Titan 2 #B-83 Vandenberg. LC: 395-B. Apogee: 1,300 km. FOT.


1971

Jun 20 - Titan 2 SSTTP M1-17 Titan 2 #B-12 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Aug 27 - Titan 2 SSTTP M2-1 Titan 2 #B-100 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.


1972

May 24 - Titan 2 SSTTP M2-10 Titan 2 #B-46 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Oct 11 - Titan 2 SSTTP M2-14 Titan 2 #B-78 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.


1973

Oct 5 - Titan 2 SSTTP M2-27 Titan 2 #B-69 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.


1974

Mar 1 - Titan 2 SSTTP M2-31 Titan 2 #B-85 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.


1975

Jan 9 - Titan 2  #B-27 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km. SOFT.

Aug 7 - Titan 2 DG-2 Titan 2 #B-52 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.

Dec 4 - Titan 2 DG-4 Titan 2 #B-41 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.


1976

Jun 27 - Titan ITF-1 - Last test launch of a Titan II ICBM Titan 2 #B-17 Vandenberg. LC: 395-C. Apogee: 1,300 km.


1978

Aug 24 - Accident at Titan 2 Silo 533-7 McConnell AFB, KS kills 2 men and 25 more are injured. Large scale oxidizer spill during fueling operation causes extensive damage to silo and results in death and injuries to personnel. Repairs were started but the silo complex was never returned to alert status.


1980

Sep 19 - Titan 2 explodes in silo. At Little Rock AFB, Silo 574-7 destroyed by explosion. An Air Force repairman doing routine maintenance in the Titan 2 silo dropped a wrench socket, it hit the missile causing a fuel leak that resulted in an explosion. One Air Force specialist was killed and 21 others were injured. The 740-ton silo lid was blown open, the Mk.6 reentry vehicle and nuclear weapon were blown out of the silo and landed 600-ft away. The Mk.6 RV was intact with a few dents.


1988

Sep 5 - Fourteen retired Titan 2 ICBM's were refurbished and modified for use as launch vehicles. The refurbished vehicles were called Titan 2 (23)G. This was the first launch in the series. It carried the classified payload Bernie 1 - ELINT satellite into orbit from Vandenberg AFB.  Titan II SLV 23G-1 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


1989

Sep 6 - Titan 2 (23)G carried the classified payload Bernie 2 - ELINT satellite into orbit from Vandenberg AFB. Titan II SLV 23G-2 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


1992

Apr 24 - Titan 2 (23)G carried the classified payload Bernie 3 - ELINT satellite into orbit from Vandenberg AFB. Titan II SLV 23G-3 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


1993

Oct 5 - Titan 2 (23)G attempted to launch the LANDSAT 6 satellite into orbit from Vandenberg AFB. Failure. Star-37XFP-ISS kick-motor malfunction.. Titan II SLV 23G-5 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W. Apogee: 724 km.


1994

Jan 25 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the Clementine 1 Lunar / Asteroid probe from Vandenberg AFB. Titan II SLV 23G-11 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


1997

Apr 4 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the DMSP-5D2 14 satellite from Vandenberg AFB. Titan II SLV 23G-6 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


1998

May 13 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the NOAA 15 satellite from Vandenberg AFB. Titan II SLV 23G-12 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


1999

Jun 20 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the QuikSCAT satellite from Vandenberg AFB. Titan II SLV 23G-7 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.

Dec 12 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the DMSP-5D3 15 satellite from Vandenberg AFB. Titan II SLV 23G-8 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


2000

Sep 21 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the NOAA 16 satellite from Vandenberg AFB. Titan II SLV 23G-13 / Star 37XFP Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


2002

Jun 24 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the NOAA 17 satellite from Vandenberg AFB. Titan 23G s/n G-14 Vandenberg. LC: SLC4W.


2003

Jan 6 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the Coriolis satellite from Vandenberg AFB. Titan 23G G-4 Vandenberg.

Oct 18 - Titan 2 (23)G launched the DMSP-5D3 16 satellite from Vandenberg AFB. Titan 23G G-9 Vandenberg. Last scheduled refurbished Titan 2 (23)G launch.