Photo Gallery
Titan I (VS-1) – Complex 395 SLTF – 3 May 1961
Overview
Also Known As: n/a
Systems
- Titan I
- Titan II
Other Programs: None
Cost: Not available
SLTF Highlights
- Single silo
- 22 July 1959 – Approved for construction of 18 months
- Silo was heavily instrumented to monitor the heat and vibration of the launch environment
- Launch Control Center was going to be 75 feet from the silo, but with following the OSTF explosion on 3 December 1960, it was relocated 1,200 feet away.
- Design included the major features of an operational silo, except no propellant transfer system and operational configuration silo closure door.
- The site was built to check a missile firing from a silo with the Titan II in mind. The silo was 145 feet deep, utilized a W-shaped flame deflector for the increased thrust of the Titan II. The Titan II was a few years away so they used a Titan I for the test.
- 16 October 1960 – First stage of Titan I, VS-1, was placed in the silo
- 7 March 1961 – Successful captive firing in the silo of VS-1 first stage
- VS-1 was a Titan I with a dummy second stage filled with water and topped by an inert re-entry vehicle
- It was recommended that the silo be modified to launch Titan II, but was rejected
- Site was converted to a Titan II operations and maintenance missile trainer