The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1912 (not a typo), the latest event was in 1972
No milestone events (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1972 – Martin Marietta receives a contract to build the Space Shuttle External Tank in Michoud, Louisiana
Military and Classified Programs:
1966 – LAUNCH: Classified mission, GD Atlas SLV-3/Lockheed Agena D, SLC4E, VAFB
1967 – LAUNCH: Classified mission, MM Titan IIIB, SLC4W, VAFB
1968 – LAUNCH FAILURE: LCS 3 (and other payloads), GD Atlas Burner II, SLC3E, VAFB – payload fairing separation – one of two Atlas vehicles with the Burner II upper stage
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
NONE
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
1968 – LAUNCH: RCA ESSA 7, Thor Delta N, SLC2E, VAFB
Commercial Programs:
NONE
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1957 – ICBM production limited, by Secretary of Defense order, to four GD Atlas vehicles and two Martin Titan vehicles a month, relegating Titan I to research and development mode
1962 – MM Titan I 595th SMS (nine missiles) declared operational at Mountain Home AFB (Idaho)
1965 – LAUNCH: MM Titan II, 395-C, VAFB
1968 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Poseidon C3, LC25C, CCAFS
1971 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Polaris C3, SSBN633, ETR
Other:
1912 – The first Glenn L. Martin Company is incorporated on this date
The photos and drawing today show the end product (Space Shuttle External tank), which resulted from the work that began on this day in 1972, when Martin Marietta was awarded the contract to build the external tank. Image and photo credits: NASA
