Titan II

[carnivorousplant]

Are the Titan IIs used to launch weather satellites now the same Titan IIs that had warheads on them in the 60’s?
Dust it of and launch, or make new ones from the blueprints?

[Tuckerfan]

The shuttle isn’t used to launch ALL satellites, its too darn expensive to do it that way, plus some cargoes can’t be handled by the shuttle (the various space probes, for example). So NASA has kept using rockets to launch various payloads since the shuttle era began.

As for the Titan II being the same thing as the ICBMs the answer is

The Titan II space-launch vehicles are decommissioned ICBMs that have been refurbished and equipped with hardware required for use as space launch vehicles. The Martin Marietta Astronautics Group was awarded a contract in January 1986 to refurbish, integrate, and launch fourteen Titan II ICBMs for government space launch requirements.

More info can be found here.

[Duckster]

Yes. See http://www.spacecom.af.mil/hqafspc/Library/FactSheets/FactsSheets.asp?FactChoice=19
Speaking of …

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –- A Titan II carrying a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather satellite launched from Vandenberg June 24.

This marks the last time a weather satellite will get a ride into orbit on the back of the Titan II.

Source: http://www.spacecom.af.mil/hqafspc/News/News_asp/nws_tmp.asp?storyid=02-158

[SmackFu]

Since the board wasn’t working last night when I tried to answer this, I’m bitter, so I’ll just pick a nit.

One of the remaining Titan II launches is:

Oct. 6: Air Force Titan 2 with DMSP-16 from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

DMSP = Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, a.k.a. a weather satellite.

So that press release is wrong.