1977, Science and Technology: Space Shuttle Enterprise First Test

On February 15, 1977, the Space Shuttle Enterprise (OV-101) made its first three taxi-test (ALT-1 - ALT-3) on a concrete runway. The Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) were a series of taxi and flight trials to test the vehicle's flight characteristics both on its own and when placed on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. On August 12, 1977, the Enterprise made its first free flight (ALT-12) at 499 km/h. The shuttle was lifted to a height of 25,000 feet by a Boeing 747 and then released, gliding back to Edwards Air Force Base on its own. A total of 16 ALT flights were conducted in 1977.

Space Shuttle Enterprise separating from the
Shuttle Carrier Aircraft during Approach and Landing Tests

August 12, 1977, the Enterprise made its first free flight (ALT-12) at 499 km/h

Originally the first orbiter was planned to be named Constitution and would be unveiled on Constitution Day, September 17, 1976. A letter-writing campaign by Star Trek fans (Trekkies) to President Gerald Ford asked that the orbiter be named after the Starship Enterprise. Most of the cast of the original series along with Gene Rodenberry were guests at Rockwell's, Palmdale California plant for the opening. The Enterprise was a test space shuttle not intended for flights in space. It was used for test flights and public relations tours. The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space-worthy orbiter, it made its first flight in 1981.

Left to right: NASA Administrator Dr. James D. Fletcher; DeForest Kelley (Dr. "Bones" McCoy); George Takei (Mr. Sulu); James Doohan (Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott); Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura); Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock); Gene Rodenberry (series creator); a NASA official and Walter Koenig (Ensign Pavel Chekov) (September 17, 1976)

All ALT flights

• ALT-1 Taxi test n°1 February 15, 1977 (143 km/h)
• ALT-2 Taxi test n°2 February 15, 1977 (225 km/h)
• ALT-3 Taxi test n°3 February 15, 1977 (253 km/h)
• ALT-4 Captive-inert flight n°1 February 18, 1977 (462 km/h)
• ALT-5 Captive-inert flight n°2 February 22, 1977 (528 km/h)
• ALT-6 Captive-inert flight n°3 February 25, 1977 (684 km/h)
• ALT-7 Captive-inert flight n°4 February 28, 1977 (684 km/h)
• ALT-8 Captive-inert flight n°5 March 2, 1977 (763 km/h)
• ALT-9 Captive-active flight n°1 June 18, 1977 (335 km/h)
• ALT-10 Captive-active flight n°2 June 28, 1977 (499 km/h)
• ALT-11 Captive-active flight n°3 July 26, 1977 (501 km/h)
• ALT-12 Free flight n°1 August 12, 1977 (499 km/h)
• ALT-13 Free flight n°2 September 13, 1977 (499 km/h)
• ALT-14 Free flight n°3 September 23, 1977 (467 km/h)
• ALT-15 Free flight n°4 October 12, 1977 (447 km/h)
• ALT-16 Free flight n°5 October 26, 1977 (455 km/h)

Documentary narrated by William Shatner