Union City in Obion County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Titan I

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, July 18, 2017

1. Titan I Marker

Inscription. Development of the Titan I first began in 1955 when the U. S. Air Force decided they needed a backup to their Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), The Atlas, in case the program failed. They wanted a larger, two-stage missile that could travel further and carry a larger payload.

The Titan I strategic missile became the United States' first multi-stage ICBM, and although just a transitional missile, it played an important role to improving future Titans and other missiles.

Powered by liquid-fueled engines that could send the missile and its accompanying nuclear warhead to a range of about 6,000 miles, it relied on a radio-inertial missile guidance system to reach its intended target. This meant the missile's trajectory was determined from commands transmitted between the missile and the control room on the ground.

Fifty-four Titan Is were readied for launch in 1962 as a deterrent during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but their operational life was cut short by later missiles that used safer fuels and more advanced guidance systems. All Titan Is were phased out by 1965 and either scrapped or distributed to museums, schools, and other facilities. The SM-69, 61-4496, seen here is one of the several that were received for display.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space

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• Exploration • Man-Made Features • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.

Location. 36° 26.212′ N, 89° 4.369′ W. Marker is in Union City, Tennessee, in Obion County. Marker is on Graham Drive. Marker is located inside Discovery Park America in Exploration Area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 298 Graham Dr, Union City TN 38261, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. F11F-1 Tiger (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); YP-84A Thunderjet (about 600 feet away); Crawler - Transporter (about 600 feet away); Stem Landing (about 600 feet away); UH-1B Iroquois (about 600 feet away); LR91-AJ -3 Engine (about 600 feet away); Geodesic Dome (about 600 feet away); Titan 1 Launch Complex (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Union City.

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, July 18, 2017

2. Titan I Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 308 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 24, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.