USAF Titan IIIC LES 8, 9 & Solrad 11A, 11B
Titan IIIC
Status
Success
Date
15 MAR 1976
01:25
Launch Provider
United States Air Force
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 40
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Mission Overview
LES 8 and 9 were experimental nuclear-powered geostationary communications satellites. Solrad 11A and 11B were scientific satellites designed to monitor the solar X-ray, UV and energetic particle emissions.
Rocket
Titan IIIC
Mission Type
Dedicated Rideshare
Orbit
Geostationary Orbit
Stages
3
Livestream
Not availableRocket Details
The Titan IIIC was an expendable launch system used by the United States Air Force from 1965 until 1982. It was the first Titan booster to feature large solid rocket motors and was planned to be used as a launcher for the Dyna-Soar, though the spaceplane was cancelled before it could fly. The majority of the launcher's payloads were DoD satellites, for military communications and early warning, though one flight (ATS-6) was performed by NASA. The Titan IIIC was launched exclusively from Cape Canaveral while its sibling, the Titan IIID, was launched only from Vandenberg AFB.
Height
42 m
Diameter
3 m
Launch Mass
626 T
Thrust
10,586 kN