HGM-25A Titan I

The <a href="/facts/Martin_Marietta/IBhkluIr">Martin Marietta</a> SM-68A/HGM-25A Titan I was the United States' first <a href="/facts/Multistage_rocket/WNrmgztj">multistage</a> <a href="/facts/Intercontinental_ballistic_missile/0vKnj2Y7">intercontinental ballistic missile</a> (ICBM), in use from 1959 until 1962. Though the <a href="/facts/SM-68_Titan/8dCUFECF">SM-68A</a> was operational for only three years, it spawned numerous follow-on models that were a part of the U.S. arsenal and space launch capability. The Titan I was unique among the Titan models in that it used <a href="/facts/Liquid_oxygen/qnI0KDTb">liquid oxygen</a> and <a href="/facts/RP-1/wDI7vNdu">RP-1</a> as propellants; all subsequent versions used <a href="/facts/Storable_propellant/K88ymXRy">storable propellants</a> instead.
Originally designed as a backup in case the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">U.S. Air Force's</a> <a href="/facts/SM-65_Atlas/H4ULUgKf">SM-65 Atlas</a> missile development ran into problems, the Titan was ultimately beaten into service by Atlas. Deployment went ahead anyway to more rapidly increase the number of missiles on alert and because the Titan's <a href="/facts/Missile_silo/3ntf1RJd">missile silo</a> basing was more survivable than Atlas.
The succeeding <a href="/facts/LGM-25C_Titan_II/xrfcxWFj">LGM-25C Titan II</a> served in the U.S. <a href="/facts/Nuclear_deterrent/osrg3g9G">nuclear deterrent</a> until 1987 and had increased capacity and range in addition to the different propellants.

HGM-25A Titan I open-in-new

HGM-25A Titan I