Titan II was originally designed and used as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), but was later used as a space launch vehicle for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Twelve Titan IIs were flown in NASA's Gemini manned space program in the mid-1960s.
The first Titan II launch, Missile N-2, was carried out on March 16, 1962 from LC-16 at Cape Canaveral and flew 5000 miles (8046 km) downrange and depositing its reentry vehicle in the Ascension splash net. The only problem was the high rate of longitudinal vibrations during first stage burn, which greatly worried NASA officials who believed that this phenomenon would be harmful to astronauts on a manned Gemini flight.
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| Cover postmarked at PAFB on the day of the first test flight of Titan II, March 16, 1962. |
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| Photo: The first successful launch of Titan II rocket on March 16, 1962. |
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| Sazin cachet cover postmarked at Port Canaveral on the day of the first test flight of Titan II, March 16, 1962. |
(Reference from
LGM-25C Titan II)
