TEASER: MrFootage. The TITAN Ballistic Missile Program. Unfortunately, the next two launches failed dramatically. The first Lot B missile was expected to demonstrate the TITAN I's flight stability on August 14th, but, as the missile built up thrust prior to its lift-off from Complex 19, its tie-down bolts exploded early, and one of the umbilicals generated a "no-go" signal to the ground support equipment's flight controls as the missile lifted off the pad prematurely. The "no-go" signal prompted an automatic engine kill signal from the flight controls, and the TITAN lost all thrust. The missile fell back through the launcher ring and exploded, and the umbilical tower was damaged in the ensuing fire. The first Lot C launch took place at Complex 16 on 12 December 1959, and it was equally discouraging. The missile's first stage destruct package ruptured the fuel tank about four seconds after launch, and the second stage fell back on the pad and exploded. Though complexes 19 and 16 were returned to service for launches in February 1960, the 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 during their flights downrange on 8 March and 8 April 1960. On the other hand, the second (and last) Lot B missile met all of its test objectives on 2 February 1960, and the last Lot C missile landed in the Ascension impact area as planned on April 28th. Six Lot G missile flights to the Ascension area were also completed successfully between February 24th and the end of June 1960. Like the THOR and ATLAS before it, the TITAN I's successes soon eclipsed its failures. INFO: The 45th Space Wing Historian, Mr. Mark C. Cleary.