The US started this program in 1976.....
2006-09-12 03:50:36 · 6 answers · asked by fxbeto 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Enterprise, the first Space Shuttle Orbiter, was originally to be named Constitution (in honor of the U.S. Constitution's Bicentennial). However, viewers of the popular TV Science Fiction show Star Trek started a write-in campaign urging the White House to select the name Enterprise. Designated, OV-101, the vehicle was rolled out of Rockwell's Air Force Plant 42, Site 1 Palmdale California assembly facility on Sept. 17, 1976. On Jan. 31, 1977, it was transported 36 miles overland from Rockwell's assembly facility to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base for the approach and landing test program.
The nine-month-long ALT program was conducted from February through November 1977 at the Dryden Flight Research Facility and demonstrated that the orbiter could fly in the atmosphere and land like an airplane, except without power-gliding flight.
2006-09-12 04:01:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Space Shuttle Enterprise OV-101. Did not have engines or a heat shield and was used to do atmospheric test flights and glide landings.
The Enterprise has been retired and is now at the Unvar Hazy Air and Space center at Dulles Airport in Virginia. This is the Smithsonian's annex to the Air & Space Museum.
After the Columbia Disaster, they removed the Wing leading edges to fire debris into them to test the tollerance towards damage from the foam insullation. I have not been back to the museum since then and I do not know if they have been replaced.
2006-09-12 03:56:12 · answer #2 · answered by Hockey, Guns & Beer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Enterprise OV-101
2006-09-12 04:25:05 · answer #3 · answered by dany m 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Enterprise was a test model. It was used to test the glide capabilities and flight controls for landing. It's part of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum now, they have a museum at Dulles Airport.
2006-09-12 03:56:55 · answer #4 · answered by Tony Z 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
before each thing, the gap Shuttles have all been retired, so as that they are not area of the tale any more desirable. The Hubble area Telescope is in a strong orbit, so is largely in loose fall, with the forces of gravity and inertia balancing one yet another out.
2016-11-26 19:39:48 · answer #5 · answered by ruffino 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The prototype shuttle was called the "Enterprise", thanks to all the star trek fans out there. Yay trekkies!
The first shuttle launched into space was the Columbia.
2006-09-12 03:56:09 · answer #6 · answered by Bramblyspam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋