willner%cfa183@harvard.harvard.edu (Steve Willner) (08/19/90)
From: willner%cfa183@harvard.harvard.edu (Steve Willner) The recent postings about ICBM locations remind me to mention that a deactivated Titan silo near Tucson is now a museum. They have on display the launch control center, fuel and oxidizer trucks, rocket engines (amazingly simple in appearance, though no doubt complex in details), re-entry vehicle, above-ground security system, and probably more that I've forgotten. There is a brief film, an excellent tour of the silo and LCC, then you get to wander around the above-ground displays for as long as you like. Driving directions: from Interstate-19 just north of Green Valley, go west on Duval Mine Road. The museum is on the right, less than a mile, and well marked by signs. The museum is open relatively normal hours (9-5??) seven days a week including most but not all holidays. Tours begin every hour or two; call the museum for exact times. Reservations are available but not necessary except possibly in peak season or if you have a large group. Price was $4 or $5 with usual discounts (students, seniors, military). A few facts remembered from a visit last fall: There were three wings of 18 missiles each, one wing located near Tucson. The whole silo had to be air conditioned to keep the oxidizer (nitrogen tetroxide) liquid. Defueling was complex and dangerous, was rarely done, and was entrusted to a few specialists in each wing. There were numerous communication systems to (supposedly) ensure that launch orders could be received even after an attack, and the silo and LCC had pretty amazing physical protection. Each missile had a single but very large warhead. (In raw megatonnage, the Titan force was a major part of the US arsenal, and political pressure delayed deactivation for several years after most military authorities thought the Titans obsolete.) Three potential missile targets were pre-loaded from paper tape and stored in the missile guidance system. At launch time, the crew (2 officers, 2 enlisted) would be ordered to select one of the three pre-loaded targets (not knowing what the targets actually were, of course) and also air or ground burst. An authentication code (something like six hex digits, not stored on site) was needed to open one of the valves on the first stage engine (oxidizer?). The warhead would be armed by the guidance system during re-entry, provided the aim appeared to be right. The tour guide commented that the Titans were an effective weapon system, since they achieved their goal of deterring attack. I may be able to remember more details if anybody has specific questions.