Shortly after the Challenger accident in 1986, when the US government decided to
offload commercial payloads from the Space Shuttle, Martin Marietta announced plans
to develop a Titan III commercial launch vehicle with its own funds. The commercial
Titan III is derived from the Titan 34D with a stretched second stage and a bulbous
shroud for dual or dedicated payloads. The first commercial Titan III was launched
with two communications satellites in December 1989. Table 44 shows a summary of
Titan space-vehicle configurations since Gemini.1101

                Table 44. Summa of Titan Vehicle Confi rations
 Confi ation Descri
 II Gemini       Titan II ICBM converted to a man-rated vehicle
                 Same as Titan II Gemini except stretched stages 1 and 2, and an
                 inte al Trans
 IIIB
 34B             Same as IIIA e
 IIIC
 HID             Same as IIIC ex
 IIIE
 34D            ·Same as 34B with added 5½-segment SRMs. Uses either Transtage
                 orIUSu            e
 IISLV           Refurbished II ICBM with 10-foot diameter PLF
 III Commercial Same as 34D except stretched stage 2, single or dual carrier,
                 enhanced liquid-rocket engines, and 13.1-foot diameter PLF. Can
                 use PAM-D2, Transta e, or TOS u er sta e
 IV              Same as 34D except stretched stages 1 and 2, 7-segment SRM or 3-
                 segment SRMU, and 16.7-foot diameter PLF. Can use IUS or
                 Centaur u er sta e




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