TITAN PROGRAM BACKGROUND Fact Sheet
Written and Edited by Cliff Lethbridge

Although the U.S. Air Force placed a great deal of confidence in the ultimate reliability of the Atlas missile, by 1955 a decision was made to develop a more advanced ICBM with capabilities improving upon those already incorporated in the Atlas.

Two major improvements desired by the U.S. Air Force for their new ICBM included a two-stage propulsion system and self-stabilized light alloy frame that would not need to be pressurized by either gas or liquid fuel in order to remain rigid.

The missile also would incorporate a pure inertial guidance system and be designed to be housed exclusively in underground silos.

As was the case with U.S. Air Force Atlas and Thor missiles, the resulting Titan class of missiles became the ancestors of a family of space launch vehicles which remain in use today.

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