Creative Midlands Heritage

Creative Midlands Heritage

Titan 2 Nuclear Missile complex 571 - 1 (Sahuarita, Arizona)

Posted: 24 Nov 2011 03:25 PM PST

My first post for ages as I have been working away most of this year :mad2:

The Titan 2 ICBM carried the largest nuclear payload of any US missile with the W53 ( 9 Megaton device ). It stands 103 feet tall in its ICBM configuration but was also used to launch the Gemini astronauts for the NASA space program.
This facility ( officially designated missile facility 571 - 1 ) is located near Davis-Monthan AFB in Sahuarita, Arizona. It is apparently the only surviving example of the missile complete with the launch silo. If ( like me ) this is your thing, it should be high on your priority if your in the area ( there is not much else out here but sand and cactus ).

The missiles were used as a nuclear deterrent up until 1987 and were the backbone of the American nuclear strategic deterrent force until the LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM was deployed.


below is a photo of the missile in its launch silo, the bottom is over 100 feet down :D




This is a photo I got from Wiki showing the whole missile launching to give a better idea of scale





The rather meaty "blast doors"





These are the doors over the missile silo, apparently even now they are kept half open so that orbiting reconnaissance spy satellites do not mistake it as hostile





This is the propellant conditioning trailer. The use of this type of storeable fuel meant the missile could be launched within 60 seconds.





This unit stored the Hydrazine fuel and could feed the missile fuel tanks directly via the launch control room





Speaking of which, below are a couple of pictures of the Launch Control Room










Here is a photo of the link corridor from the missile silo to the control room





and finally a photo of the "business end"




They call this place a museum but it is far more of a "Hack Green" experience :thumbsup:

I have a load more information on nuclear weapons and various missile photos here The Cold War - Digital Rust

Midlands only!

Posted: 27 Aug 2011 08:40 AM PDT

Midlands only examples please, subjects from elsewhere go here-

http://www.midlandsheritage.co.uk/non-midlands-museums/



:thumbsup:


:)

Midlands signage

Posted: 24 Nov 2011 08:25 AM PST

For all examples of Midlands and non UE signs of historical and general interest.. :thumbsup:


;)

Midlands only!

Posted: 27 Aug 2011 08:40 AM PDT

Midlands only examples please, subjects from elsewhere go here-

Non-Midlands heritage - Midlands Heritage Forum



:thumbsup:


:)

Midlands only!

Posted: 27 Aug 2011 08:40 AM PDT

Midlands only examples please, subjects from elsewhere go here-

http://www.midlandsheritage.co.uk/non-midlands-signage/



:thumbsup:


:)

It's A Beautiful Day in Knowle WM

Posted: 10 Nov 2011 08:18 AM PST

A memorial sundial in front of Arden School, Knowle.









How many of you recognise the lines below? I don't know if this is the original source but they're part of the lyrics to 'Time Is' by the San Francisco band It's A Beautiful Day on their first, and classic, album.
Posted by Creative Midlands at 11/25/2011 11:30:00 am
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)