 |
| Above, Enterprise in its maintenance hangar at Edwards Air Force Base in 1977. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It is hard to believe that the start of construction of the space shuttle test vehicle Enterprise began 50 years ago this month.
I got to see it and stand under it in its maintenance hangar at Edwards Air Force Base in 1977.
 |
| Above, Mitch Geriminsky and I in Enterprise's maintenance hangar. |
From NASA's Facebook page:
On June 4, 1974—50 years ago today—construction began on NASA's first space shuttle. Officially designated OV-101, Enterprise received its more common name after a dedicated write-in campaign by fans of the original Star Trek TV series. When Enterprise made its public debut in California on Sept. 17, 1976, several cast members from the show, as well as creator Gene Roddenberry, were on hand to attend.
Enterprise made its first independent flight on Aug. 12, 1977, released from atop a Boeing 747 to test the shuttle's approach and landing capabilities. Built to perform test flights in the atmosphere, Enterprise never reached orbit but paved the way for NASA's next generation of spacecraft. Space shuttle Columbia became the first shuttle to fly into space on April 12, 1981.
No comments:
Post a Comment