File:Enterprise_free_flight.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Enterprise
Sign in to saveAlso known as Space Shuttle Enterprise, OV-101, OV101, Orbital Vehicle 101
American Space Shuttle test vehicle
Key facts
- Type
- Spaceplane
- Class
- Space Shuttle orbiter
- Eponym
- USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
- Other name
- Constitution (1975–1977)
- Serial number span no
- OV-101
- Owner
- NASA
- Manufacturer
- Rockwell International
- First flight
- August 12, 1977 ( 1977-08-12 ) ALT-12
- Last flight
- October 26, 1977 ( 1977-10-26 ) ALT-16
- Flight time
- 20 m, 58 s above Earth
- Fate
- Retired
- Location
- Intrepid Museum New York City , New York
via Wikipedia infobox
~18 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Space Shuttle Enterprise (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-101) is the first orbiter of the Space Shuttle system. Rolled out on September 17, 1976, it was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform atmospheric test flights after being launched from a modified Boeing 747. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield. As a result, it was not capable of spaceflight.
Originally, Enterprise had been intended to be refitted for orbital flight to become the second space-rated orbiter in service. However, during the construction of Space Shuttle Columbia, details of the final design changed, making it simpler and less costly to build Challenger around a body frame that had been built as a test article. Similarly, Enterprise was considered for refit to replace Challenger after the latter was destroyed, but Endeavour was built from structural spares instead.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Enterprise” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.