TITAN 1 ROCKET LAUNCH EXPLODED, DEC. 12,1959

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Author:MrDanBeaumont
Published:2011-10-01 02:46:03

TEASER: MrFootage. Aye aye! T' TITAN Ballistic Missile Program. Unfortunately, t' next two launches failed dramatically. Well, blow me down! T' first Lot B missile was expected t' demonstrate t' TITAN I's flight stability on August 14th, me hearties, but, me hearties, as t' missile built up thrust prior t' its lift-off from Complex 19, matey, its tie-down bolts exploded early, and one o' t' umbilicals generated a "no-go" signal t' t' ground support equipment's flight controls as t' missile lifted off t' pad prematurely. T' "no-go" signal prompted an automatic engine kill signal from t' flight controls, and t' TITAN lost all thrust. Begad! T' missile fell back through t' launcher rin' and exploded, and t' umbilical tower was damaged in t' ensuin' fire. T' first Lot C launch took place at Complex 16 on 12 December 1959, me bucko, and it was equally discouraging. T' missile's first stage destruct package ruptured t' fuel tank about four seconds after launch, and t' second stage fell back on t' pad and exploded. Well, blow me down! Though complexes 19 and 16 were returned t' service for launches in February 1960, t' next Lot C missile exploded 52 seconds after its lift-off from Complex 16 on February 5th, and two other Lot C missiles experienced second stage problems durin' their flights downrange on 8 March and 8 April 1960. On t' other hand, t' second (and last) Lot B missile met all o' its test objectives on 2 February 1960, and t' last Lot C missile landed in t' Ascension impact area as planned on April 28th. Blimey! Six Lot G missile flights t' t' Ascension area were also completed successfully betwixt February 24th and t' end o' June 1960. Like t' THOR and ATLAS before it, t' TITAN I's successes soon eclipsed its failures. Begad! INFO: T' 45th Space Win' Historian, Mr. Begad! Mark C. Aye aye! Cleary.

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