Space Shuttle Enterprise: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Originally, ''Enterprise'' had been intended to be refitted for orbital flight to become the second space-rated orbiter in service.<ref name="tech"/> However, during the construction of {{OV|Columbia}}, details of the final design changed, making it simpler and less costly to build {{OV|Challenger|full=no}} around a body frame that had been built as a [[test article (aerospace)|test article]].<ref name="tech"/> Similarly, ''Enterprise'' was considered for refit to replace ''Challenger'' after the latter [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|was destroyed]], but {{OV|Endeavour|full=no}} was built from structural spares instead.<ref name="tech"/><ref name="name"/>

''Enterprise'' was restored and placed on display in 2003 at the [[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]]'s new [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] in Virginia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/informal/features/F_Udvar_Hazy_Center.html |title=National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center |publisher=NASA |date=October 23, 2003 |access-date=September 30, 2015 |archive-date=January 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125165545/http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/informal/features/F_Udvar_Hazy_Center.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the [[Space Shuttle retirement|retirement]] of the Space Shuttle fleet, {{OV|Discovery|full=no}} replaced ''Enterprise'' at the Udvar-Hazy Center, and ''Enterprise'' was transferred to the [[Intrepid ~~Sea, Air & Space~~Museum|''Intrepid'' Museum]] in New York City, where it has been on display since July 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/18/3168405/nasa-space-shuttle-enterprise-pictures-uss-intrepid-nyc |title=NASA Space Shuttle Enterprise aboard the USS Intrepid in pictures |work=[[The Verge]] |first=Dante |last=D'Orazio |date=July 18, 2012 |access-date=September 30, 2015 |archive-date=July 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709154804/https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/18/3168405/nasa-space-shuttle-enterprise-pictures-uss-intrepid-nyc |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Differences between ''Enterprise'' and future shuttles==

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The mated ''Enterprise''/SCA combination was then subjected to five test flights with ''Enterprise'' uncrewed and unactivated. The purpose of these test flights was to measure the flight characteristics of the mated combination. These tests were followed with three test flights with ''Enterprise'' crewed to test the shuttle flight control systems.<ref name="tech"/>

On August 12, 1977, ''Enterprise'' flew on its own for the first time.<ref name="Futz1977">{{cite web |url=http://www.upi.com/Audio/Year_in_Review/Events-of-1977/Space-Shuttle-Enterprise/12361881614363-5/ |title=1977 Year in Review: Space Shuttle Enterprise |work=UPI.com |publisher=United Press International |first=Bob |last=Futz |year=1977 |access-date=January 9, 2013 |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105184202/http://www.upi.com/Audio/Year_in_Review/Events-of-1977/Space-Shuttle-Enterprise/12361881614363-5/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Enterprise'' underwent four more free flights where the craft separated from the SCA and was landed under astronaut control. These tests verified the flight characteristics of the orbiter design and were ~~carried~~used ~~out~~to ~~under~~carry out several aerodynamic and weight configurations.<ref name="ff"/> The first three flights were flown with a tailcone placed at the end of ''Enterprise''{{'s}} aft fuselage, which reduced drag and turbulence when mated to the SCA. The final two flights saw the tailcone removed and mockup main engines installed. On the fifth and final glider flight, [[pilot-induced oscillation]] problems were revealed, which had to be addressed before the first orbital launch occurred.<ref name="alt"/>

[[File:Enterprise lifted.jpg|thumb|upright|A crane hoists ''Enterprise'' into the [[Saturn V Dynamic Test Stand|Dynamic Structural Test Facility]] to undergo dynamic testing in launch configuration.]]

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After this period, ''Enterprise'' was returned to NASA's [[Dryden Flight Research Facility]] in September 1981.<ref name="ksc-pao-ent">{{cite web |url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/enterprise.html |title=Enterprise (OV-101) |work=NASA.gov |date=October 3, 2000 |access-date=November 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515233902/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/enterprise.html |archive-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref> In 1983 and 1984, ''Enterprise'' underwent an international tour visiting [[France]], [[West Germany]], [[Italy]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[Canada]]. ''Enterprise'' also visited [[California]], [[Alabama]], and [[Louisiana]] (while visiting the [[1984 Louisiana World Exposition]]).

[[File:Space_Shuttle_Enterprise_in_launch_configuration.jpg|upright|thumb|''Enterprise'' visited ~~Vandenburg~~Vandenberg SLC-6 in launch configuration 17 months before [[STS-62-A|the first West Coast Shuttle launch]] was scheduled]]

Between November 1984 and May 1985, ''Enterprise'' was again mated with an external tank and solid rocket boosters in a boilerplate configuration for a series of fit checks of the [[Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 6|never-used shuttle facilities]] at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] in California.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 1, 2019 |title=40 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Enterprise rolls to the Pad |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/40-years-ago-space-shuttle-enterprise-rolls-to-the-pad |access-date=September 26, 2022 |work=NASA.gov}}</ref><ref name="lompoc20050929">{{cite news |last=Scully |first=Janene |date=September 29, 2005 |title=New era dawns for SLC-6 |url=http://lompocrecord.com/news/local/new-era-dawns-for-slc/article_bd0a0f6c-85c7-5d57-b11a-83523377aca9.html |access-date=June 8, 2017 |work=[[Lompoc Record]]}}</ref><ref name="telegramtribune19851016">{{cite news |last1=Fulks |first1=Tom |date=October 16, 1985 |title=Vandeberg opens new space shuttle base |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-vandeberg-opens-new-space-sh/122247704/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404064312/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-vandeberg-opens-new-space-sh/122247704/ |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=April 4, 2023 |work=[[The Tribune (San Luis Obispo)|The County-Telegram Tribune]] |location=[[San Luis Obispo, California]] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

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| caption2 = ''Enterprise'' (left) stands with ''Discovery'' on the latter's delivery to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.

}}

From 1985 to 2003,<ref name="nasasf20120427" /> ''Enterprise'' was stored at the [[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]]'s hangar at [[Washington Dulles International Airport]] before it was restored and moved to the Smithsonian's newly built [[National Air and Space Museum]] [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] at Washington Dulles, where it was the centerpiece of the space collection.<ref name="hazy">{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/everydaylife/nasm_enterprise.html |title=Shuttle Enterprise at Center of Museum's Space Hangar |work=NASA.gov |first=Jim |last=Wilson |date=October 29, 2004 |access-date=November 28, 2007 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306144538/https://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/everydaylife/nasm_enterprise.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On April 12, 2011, NASA announced that {{OV|Discovery|full=no}}, the most traveled orbiter in the fleet, would replace ''Enterprise'' in the Smithsonian's collection once the [[Space Shuttle retirement|Shuttle fleet was retired]], with ownership of ''Enterprise'' transferred to the [[Intrepid ~~Sea, Air & Space~~Museum|''Intrepid'' Museum]] in New York City. On April 17, 2012, ''Discovery'' was transported by [[Shuttle Carrier Aircraft]] to Dulles from [[Kennedy Space Center]], where it made several passes over the Washington D.C. metro area.<ref name="nasa20120417">{{cite news |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/discovery_departure.html |title=Discovery Departs Kennedy Space Center |work=NASA.gov |first=Anna |last=Heiney |date=April 17, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2012 |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419055006/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/discovery_departure.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="washpost20120418">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/space-shuttle-discovery-makes-final-flight-over-washington-dc/2012/04/18/gIQAMtqcQT_story.html |title=Space shuttle Discovery makes final flight over Washington D.C. |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Brian |last=Vastag |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=April 19, 2012 |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419055930/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/space-shuttle-discovery-makes-final-flight-over-washington-dc/2012/04/18/gIQAMtqcQT_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After ''Discovery'' had been removed from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, both orbiters were displayed nose-to-nose outside the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center before ''Enterprise'' was made ready for its flight to New York.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/when-enterprise-met-discovery |title=When Enterprise Met Discovery |last=Camusci |first=Tiffany |date=August 31, 2018 |website=National Air and Space Museum |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=January 9, 2020 |archive-date=July 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721043238/https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/when-enterprise-met-discovery |url-status=live }}</ref>

====New York====

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| visitation_year =

| refnum = 13000071

}}On December 12, 2011, ownership of ''Enterprise'' was officially transferred to the ''[[Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum|Intrepid]]'' [[Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum|Museum]] in New York City.<ref name="cspace20111212">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-121211a.html |title=Intrepid Museum Celebrates Ownership of Space Shuttle Enterprise |work=CollectSpace.com |first=Robert Z |last=Pearlman |date=December 12, 2011 |access-date=January 30, 2012 |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112135412/http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-121211a.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NAS">{{cite news |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/transition/placement/enterprise_transfer.html |title=NASA Transfers Enterprise Title to Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City |work=NASA.gov |first=Kris |last=Rainey |date=December 11, 2011 |access-date=January 30, 2012 |archive-date=February 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211074602/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/transition/placement/enterprise_transfer.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="prweb20111122">{{cite press release |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8987493.htm |title=NASA Transfers Title to Space Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City |publisher=PRWeb.com |first1=Deborah |last1=Raskin |first2=Luke |last2=Sacks |date=November 22, 2011 |access-date=March 27, 2012 |archive-date=January 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129152844/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8987493.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In preparation for the anticipated relocation, engineers evaluated the vehicle in early 2010 and determined that it was safe to fly on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft once again.<ref name="nsf100314">{{Cite news |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/enterprise-good-condition-potential-sca-ferry-smithsonian/ |title=Enterprise in good condition for potential SCA ferry from Smithsonian NASM |work=NASAspaceflight.com |first=Chris |last=Bergin |date=March 14, 2010 |access-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316230551/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/enterprise-good-condition-potential-sca-ferry-smithsonian/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At approximately 13:40 [[UTC]] on April 27, 2012, ''Enterprise'' took off from Dulles International Airport en route to a fly-by over the [[Hudson River]], New York's [[JFK International Airport]], the [[Statue of Liberty]], the [[George Washington Bridge|George Washington]] and [[Verrazano-Narrows Bridge|Verrazano-Narrows]] Bridges, and several other landmarks in the city, in an approximately 45-minute "final tour". At 15:23 UTC, ''Enterprise'' touched down at [[JFK International Airport]].<ref name="njcom20120427">{{cite news |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/space_shuttle_enterprise_lands.html |title=Space shuttle Enterprise lands safely in New York, after soaring over northern N.J. |work=NJ.com |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 27, 2012 |access-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605022525/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/space_shuttle_enterprise_lands.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wsj20120427">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304811304577369602130310414 |title=A Shuttle Meets Its City |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |first1=Pervaiz |last1=Shallwani |first2=Alison |last2=Fox |date=April 27, 2016 |access-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805120814/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304811304577369602130310414 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The mobile [[Mate-Demate Device]] and cranes were transported from Dulles to the ramp at JFK and the shuttle was removed from the SCA overnight on May 12, 2012, placed on a specially designed flat bed trailer and returned to Hangar 12.<ref name="cspace20120301">{{cite news |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-030112a.html |title=Space shuttle Enterprise lands in New York City on April 23 |work=CollectSpace.com |first=Robert Z |last=Pearlman |date=March 1, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305024610/http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-030112a.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 3 a [[Weeks Marine]] barge took ''Enterprise'' to [[Jersey City]]. The Shuttle sustained cosmetic damage to a wingtip when a gust of wind blew the barge towards a piling.<ref name="abcnews20120605">{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/06/space-shuttle-enterprise-damaged-en-route-to-new-home/ |title=Space Shuttle Enterprise Damaged On Way to New Home |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |first=Alexandra |last=Ludka |date=June 5, 2012 |access-date=June 7, 2012 |archive-date=June 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607051156/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/06/space-shuttle-enterprise-damaged-en-route-to-new-home/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was hoisted June 6 onto the Intrepid Museum in Manhattan.<ref name="njcom20120604">{{cite news |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/space_shuttle_enterprise_to_sp.html |title=Enterprise to spend day in Jersey City |work=NJ.com |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=June 7, 2012 |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203144155/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/space_shuttle_enterprise_to_sp.html |url-status=live }}</ref>