In 1965, the first large solid-fuel rocket - a Titan 3C - was launched into orbit. Better than a liquid-propellant rocket, a solid-propellant rocket has fewer parts, simpler construction, is safer and more reliable. It is more powerful than a liquid-propellant rocket of the same size. The solid boosters were ignited on the ground, each composed of five segments, and was 10 ft (3.0 m) in diameter, 85 ft (26 m) long, and weighed nearly 500,000 lb (230,000 kg). The payload on this launch was a Transtage, the upper stage used on Titan IIIs. Many military and NASA payloads were put into orbit with the generations of this launch vehicle family. It remained the most powerful launcher used by the Air Force until it was replaced by the Titan 34D in 1982.« more