Enterprise's First Free Flight: Launching the Shuttle Era

On August 20th in Science History, a significant event took place in 1977 when the NASA Space Shuttle Enterprise completed its first free flight. This marked a major milestone in the development of the Space Shuttle program, which would go on to shape the future of space exploration for decades to come.

The Space Shuttle Enterprise, named after the iconic starship from the Star Trek television series, was the first orbiter built for NASA's Space Shuttle program. Although it was not designed to fly in space, the Enterprise was used for critical atmospheric test flights and ground tests that paved the way for the operational Space Shuttle fleet.

On this day in 1977, the Enterprise was released from a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft at an altitude of approximately 24,000 feet (7,315 meters) over the Mojave Desert in California. Piloted by NASA astronauts Fred Haise and Gordon Fullerton, the Enterprise glided smoothly to a landing on the dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base.

The free flight lasted about 5 minutes and 21 seconds, during which the Enterprise demonstrated its aerodynamic capabilities and validated the design of the Space Shuttle's delta-wing configuration. This successful test flight provided valuable data and confidence in the Shuttle's ability to glide safely back to Earth after completing its missions in space.

The Enterprise conducted several more free flights and ground tests before it was retired. Its legacy lives on through the operational Space Shuttles that followed: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. These iconic spacecraft played crucial roles in advancing our understanding of the universe, servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, constructing the International Space Station, and conducting countless scientific experiments in microgravity.

The Space Shuttle program, which lasted from 1981 to 2011, demonstrated the incredible possibilities of reusable spacecraft and captured the imagination of people worldwide. It showcased the ingenuity, bravery, and dedication of the astronauts, scientists, and engineers who worked tirelessly to push the boundaries of space exploration.

Today, as we reflect on the historic free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Space Shuttle program and the countless individuals who made it possible. Their legacy continues to inspire new generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers who dare to reach for the stars and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos.


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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to This Moment in Science History podcast on August twentieth.
In science history, a significant event took place in nineteen
seventy seven when the NASAs Space Shuttle Enterprise completed its
first free flight. This marked a major milestone in the
development of the Space Shuttle program, which would go on
to shape the future of space exploration for decades to come.

(00:22):
The Space Shuttle Enterprise, named after the iconic starship from
the Star Trek television series, was the first orbiter built
for NASA's Space Shuttle program. Although it was not designed
to fly in space, the Enterprise was used for critical
atmospheric test flights and ground tests that paved the way
for the operational Space Shuttle fleet. On this day in

(00:43):
nineteen seventy seven, the Enterprise was released from a modified
Boeing seven forty seven carrier aircraft at an altitude of
approximately twenty four thousand feet seven thousand, three hundred fifteen
meters over the Mojave Desert in California. Piloted by NASA
astronauts Fred Hayes and Gordon Philloton, the Enterprise glided smoothly
to a landing on the dry lake bed at Edward's

(01:05):
Air Force Base. The free flight lasted about five minutes
and twenty one seconds, during which the Enterprise demonstrated its
aerodynamic capabilities and validated the design of the Space Shuttle's
delta wing configuration. This successful test flight provided valuable data
and confidence in the Shuttle's ability to glide safely back
to Earth. After completing its missions in space, the Enterprise

(01:27):
conducted several more free flights and ground tests before it
was retired. Its legacy lives on through the operational space
shuttles that followed Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. These
iconic spacecraft played crucial roles in advancing our understanding of
the universe, servicing the Hubble space telescope, constructing the International

(01:48):
Space Station, and conducting countless scientific experiments in microgravity. The
Space Shuttle program, which lasted from nineteen eighty one to
twenty eleven, demonstrated the incredible possibilities of reuseinga spacecraft and
captured the imagination of people worldwide. It showcased the ingenuity, bravery,
and dedication of the astronauts, scientists, and engineers who worked

(02:11):
tirelessly to push the boundaries of space exploration. Today as
we reflect on the historic free flight of the Space
Shuttle Enterprise. We celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Space
Shuttle program and the countless individuals you made it possible.
Their legacy continues to inspire new generations of scientists, engineers,
and explorers who dare to reach for the stars and

(02:33):
unlock the mysteries of the cosmos. And that wraps it
up for another episode. Please subscribe and join us tomorrow
for another great moment in science. This has been a
Quiet Please Studios Production. For more check out Quiet Please
dot Ai. Thank you for listening.