United States Air Force KH-8 18 Titan IIIB
About the KH-8 18 Mission
| Type | Government/Top Secret |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit |
KH-8 or Gambit-3 was the second generation of Gambit high resolution reconnaissance satellites.
Launch Pad & Location
Space Launch Complex 4W
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
| Launches | 93 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 93 |
| Total Launches | 916 |
Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Lockheed Martin Titan IIIB Rocket
Titan IIIB was the collective name for a number of derivatives of the Titan II ICBM and Titan III launch vehicle, modified by the addition of an Agena upper stage. It consisted of four separate rockets. The Titan 23B was a basic Titan II with an Agena upper stage, and the Titan 24B was the same concept, but using the slightly enlarged Titan IIIM rocket as the base. The Titan 33B was a Titan 23B with the Agena (which had a smaller diameter than the Titan) enclosed in an enlarged fairing, in order to allow larger payloads to be launched. The final member of the Titan IIIB family was the Titan 34B which was a Titan 24B with the larger fairing used on the Titan 33B.
| Length | 45.0 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 3.1 m |
| Stages | 3 |
| Launch Mass | 156.0 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 1,913.0 kN |
| LEO Capacity | 3,000 kg |
| Maiden Flight | 7/29/1966 |
About United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal Corps, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the United States Armed Forces in 1947 with the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947.
| Total Launches | 1,078 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 972 |
| Failed | 106 |
| Consecutive Success | 68 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the United States Air Force Titan IIIB KH-8 18 launch scheduled?
The United States Air Force Titan IIIB KH-8 18 launch was scheduled for:
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Where did the United States Air Force Titan IIIB KH-8 18 mission launch from?
The United States Air Force Titan IIIB rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 4W at Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA. Vandenberg Space Force Base is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.
What rocket was used for the KH-8 18 mission?
The KH-8 18 mission launched aboard a United States Air Force Titan IIIB rocket. Titan IIIB was the collective name for a number of derivatives of the Titan II ICBM and Titan III launch vehicle, modified by the addition of an Agena upper stage. It consisted of four separate rockets. The Titan 23B was a basic Titan II with an Agena upper stage, and the Titan 24B was the same concept, but using the slightly enlarged Titan IIIM rocket as the base. The Titan 33B was a Titan 23B with the Agena (which had a smaller diameter than the Titan) enclosed in an enlarged fairing, in order to allow larger payloads to be launched. The final member of the Titan IIIB family was the Titan 34B which was a Titan 24B with the larger fairing used on the Titan 33B. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the United States Air Force Titan IIIB KH-8 18 launch?
The United States Air Force Titan IIIB KH-8 18 launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the United States Air Force Titan IIIB KH-8 18 launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest United States Air Force Titan IIIB launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the KH-8 18 mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official United States Air Force live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
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