Space Shuttle Enterprise
Space Shuttle Enterprise
Coordinates: 
40°45′53″N 74°00′03″W / 40.764832°N 74.000763°W / 40.764832; -74.000763
| Enterprise OV-101 | |
|---|---|
 Enterprise at SLC-6 at Vandenberg AFB | |
| OV designation | OV-101 |
| Country | United States |
| Contract award | July 26, 1972 |
| Named after | USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) (Star Trek starship) |
| Status | Retired, on display at Intrepid Museum |
| First flight | ALT test flight on SCA February 18, 1977 |
| Last flight | Ferry flight on SCA April 27, 2012 |
| Time spent in space | Never flew in space |
Space Shuttle Enterprise | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Location | New York City |
| Built | 1976 |
| Built by | Rockwell International |
| Governing body | Intrepid Museum |
| NRHP Reference # | 13000071 |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 2013 |
The Space Shuttle Enterprise (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-101) was the first Space Shuttle. It was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform test flights in the atmosphere, aided by a modified Boeing 747.[1] It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield, and was therefore not capable of spaceflight. It was unveiled on September 17, 1976.[2]
Originally, Enterprise had been intended to be refitted for orbital flight to become the second space-rated orbiter in service.[1] However, during the construction of Columbia, details of the final design changed, particularly with regard to the weight of the fuselage and wings. Refitting Enterprise for spaceflight would have involved dismantling the orbiter and returning the sections to subcontractors across the country. As this was an expensive proposition, it was determined to be less costly to build Challenger around a body frame (STA-099) that had been built as a test article.[1] Similarly, Enterprise was considered for refit to replace Challenger after the latter was destroyed, but Endeavour was built from structural spares instead.[1][3]
On December 12, 2011, ownership of the Enterprise was officially transferred to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.[21][22][23] 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.[24] At approximately 9:40 am Eastern Daylight Time 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 and Verrazano-Narrows Bridges, and several other landmarks in the city, in an approximately 45-minute "final tour". At 11:23 am Eastern Daylight Time Enterprise touched down at JFK International Airport.[25]
