![]() The two aircraft were identical in performance as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). One is a 747-123 model, while the other was designated a 747-100SR-46 model. NASA flew two modified Boeing 747 jetliners, originally manufactured for commercial use, as Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. NASA’s modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with the Space Shuttle Endeavour on top lifts off to begin its ferry flight back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (a modified Boeing 747) The tests provided solid evidence that the foam strike was the cause of the accident. In April 2003, in the wake of the Columbia accident, investigators borrowed Enterprise’s left landing gear door and part of the port wing for foam impact tests. Periodically, engineers removed parts from Enterprise to test for materials durability, and also evaluated the structural integrity of the vehicle including its payload bay doors, and found it to be in sound condition even after years in storage. In 1990, experimenters used Enterprise’s cockpit windows to test mount an antenna for the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment, as no other orbiters were available. Later that same year, NASA used Enterprise to test various crew bailout procedures being developed in the wake of the Challenger accident. To test the efficacy of an arresting barrier, workers slowly winched Enterprise into a landing barrier they had set up at Dulles to see if the vehicle suffered any damage. ![]() In 1987, the Agency was concerned about how to handle an orbiter returning from space should it suffer a brake failure. Later, NASA found other practical use for Enterprise. As a result, it was not capable of spaceflight. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield. Its purpose was to perform atmospheric test flights after being launched from a modified Boeing 747. Rolled out on September 17, 1976, Enterprise was the first Space Shuttle ever built. Don Fuqua (D.-Fla.) and, Walter Koenig (Ensign Pavel Chekov). ![]() Spock) series creator Gene Roddenberry U.S. Sulu) James Doohan (Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott) Nichelle Nichols (Lt. ![]() “Bones” McCoy on the series George Takei (Mr. Fletcher DeForest Kelley, who portrayed Dr. From left to right they are NASA Administrator Dr. Another historic photo: In 1976, NASA’s space shuttle Enterprise rolled out of the Palmdale manufacturing facilities and was greeted by NASA officials and cast members from the ‘Star Trek’ television series.
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