NASA unveiled its first Space Shuttle ‘Enterprise' on this day in 1976; Read more

On this day in history, Sept. 17, 1976, NASA launched its first-ever proto shuttle Enterprise at facility in Sourn California, US. test vehicle marked beginning of NASA’s shuttles era. Originally, named as Constitution, vehicle attracted thousands of spectators at launch, including original Star Trek television series cast as shuttle was named after a starship commanded by fictional Captain James Tiberius Kirk.

“Enterprise, first Shuttle Orbiter, was originally to be named Constitution (in hor of U.S. Constitution's Bicentennial). However, viewers of popular TV Science Fiction show Star Trek started a write-in campaign urging White House to select name Enterprise,” NASA wrote in a press release. 

Furr, it informed that ncy conducted a nine-month ALT program at its Dryden Flight Research Facility to demonstrate that first-ever shuttle was capable of a flight like an airplane and could fly into Earth’s atmosphere. Later, NASA astronauts Fred Haise, Gordon Fullerton, and Joe Engle and Dick Truly flew 50,000-pound craft as Enterprise was recognized capable of carrying structural los and responses.

[NASA's shuttle Enterprise rolled out of Palmdale manufacturing facilities and was greeted by NASA officials and cast members from Star Trek television series. From left to right. Credit: © NASA]

“Five captive flights of Enterprise mounted atop SCA with Enterprise unmanned and Enterprise's systems inert were conducted in 1977 to assess structural integrity and performance handling qualities of mated craft,” NASA revealed in release.  

According to NASA, astronauts even mand to separate craft from SCA in a historic landing at t Edwards Air Force Base on a dry lake bed, as never previously witnessed. Enterprise’s last two flights were me without tail cone, NASA said, ding, that flight opted configured orbiter's pilot-guided approach and landing capability. “On March 13, 1978, Enterprise was ferried atop SCA to NASA's Marshall Flight Center, where it was mated with external tank and solid rocket boosters and subjected to a series of vertical ground vibration tests,” NASA informed.

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[A view of NASA Orbiter OV-101 Enterprise on launch tower as it would appear prior to launch. Im credit: Air Force/TSGT James Pearson/ NASA]

[ shuttle proto Enterprise flies free after being released from NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft over Rogers Dry Lakebed during second of five free flights carried out at Dryden Flight Research Center. Credit: © NASA]

[NASA handed Enterprise over to Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Museum near Washington, D.C. Credit: NASA]

Retired to Intrepid Sea, Air and  Museum

After this, Enterprise was ferried to Kennedy Center. In its course, Enterprise went on a 28-day European goodwill tour as it was loed on Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Enterprise flew across Goose Bay, Labror in Newfoundland Cana, and on to Keflavik Naval Air Station in Iceland. On September 20, 1985, Enterprise which was parked at Dryden Flight Research Facility to Kennedy Center in Florida was handed to  Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Museum in Washington DC.  Smithsonian’s National Air and Museum transferred Enterprise to Intrepid Sea, Air & Museum in 2012. Discovery is currently on display at our Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia .

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