{"id":168399,"date":"2021-09-17T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T18:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-474039"},"modified":"2023-09-20T14:03:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T18:03:27","slug":"45-years-ago-space-shuttle-enterprise-makes-its-public-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/45-years-ago-space-shuttle-enterprise-makes-its-public-debut\/","title":{"rendered":"45 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Enterprise Makes its Public Debut"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On Sept. 17, 1976, NASA rolled out its first space shuttle, named Enterprise, from its manufacturing plant in Palmdale, California. The story of Enterprise officially began on Jan. 5, 1972, when President Richard M. Nixon directed NASA to build the partially reusable space transportation system, stating that \u201cit would revolutionize transportation into near space.\u201d NASA Administrator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-james-fletcher-sworn-in-as-nasa-administrator\/\">James C. Fletcher<\/a> hailed the President\u2019s decision as \u201can historic step in the nation\u2019s space program,\u201d adding that it would change what humans can accomplish in space. Following two years of construction and assembly, gathered dignitaries who hailed the benefits of the new space transportation system witnessed Enterprise\u2019s premiere roll out. The creator and cast members of the TV series <em>Star Trek<\/em> also attended the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout nixon and fletcher with shuttle model 1972\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_1_nixon_and_fletcher_with_shuttle_model_1972.jpg\" width=\"328\" height=\"250\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout ford and fletcher w shuttle model sep 8 1976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_2_ford_and_fletcher_w_shuttle_model_sep_8_1976.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\"><br>\n<em>Left: On Jan. 5, 1972, NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher, left, presents President<br>\nRichard M. Nixon with a model of the proposed space shuttle. Right: President Gerald<br>\nR. Ford and Administrator Fletcher during the Sept. 8, 1976 White House meeting when<br>\nthe first orbiter was named Enterprise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On July 26, 1972, NASA awarded the contract to the Space Division of the North American Rockwell Corporation, later known as Rockwell International, of Downey, California, to begin construction. Manufacture of the first components of Orbital Vehicle-101 (OV-101) \u2013 the formal designation of the first space shuttle \u2013 began on June 4, 1974, at Rockwell\u2019s Downey plant. Construction continued over the next two years, with final assembly of the orbiter taking place at the Rockwell plant in Palmdale, California. As originally conceived, OV-101 would conduct approach and landing tests (ALT) in the atmosphere to verify the vehicle\u2019s aerodynamic characteristics and then be retrofitted to become a space worthy orbiter. But modifying OV-101 proved to be too costly, and following completion of the ALTs, NASA used the first shuttle to conduct additional tests to prepare its sister ships for orbital flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_3_under_construction_downey_nov_25_1975_s75-33774.jpg\" alt=\"enterprise rollout under construction_downey nov 25 1975\" width=\"231\" height=\"240\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_4_under_construction_at_rockwell_international_corp_space_div_plant_in_palmdale_may_1975_s75-32115.jpg\" alt=\"enterprise rollout under construction at rockwell international corp space div plant in palmdale may 1975\" width=\"233\" height=\"240\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_5_palmdale_construction_dec_17_1975_s75-34292.jpg\" alt=\"enterprise rollout palmdale construction dec 17 1975\" width=\"254\" height=\"240\"><br><em>Left: At Rockwell International\u2019s Downey, California, plant, during manufacture of the first space shuttle orbiter, workers lower the upper cabin onto the lower forward cabin section in November 1975. Middle: In May 1975, the orbiter\u2019s wings arrived at Rockwell\u2019s Palmdale, California, facility. Right: In December 1975, workers install the orbiter\u2019s vertical stabilizer at the Palmdale plant.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout 6 under construction rockwell dec 17 1975\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_6_under_construction_rockwell_dec_17_1975_s75-34293.jpg\" width=\"284\" height=\"230\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout under construction palmdale jun 26 1976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_7_under_construction_palmdale_jun_26_1976_s76-26870.jpg\" width=\"292\" height=\"230\"><br>\n<em>Left: The first space shuttle orbiter under assembly at Rockwell International\u2019s<br>\nPalmdale, California, facility in December 1975. Right: The first space shuttle<br>\norbiter nearing completion in July 1976.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA originally planned to name OV-101 Constitution to honor the nation\u2019s foundational document, with the public rollout of the vehicle planned for Constitution Day in 1976. Fans of the science fiction TV series <em>Star Trek<\/em> mounted a determined write-in campaign, before the age of the Internet and social media, to NASA and to President Gerald R. Ford to instead name this first vehicle Enterprise, after the fictional starship made famous by the show. By one account, these fans sent hundreds of thousands of letters. During a Sept. 8 meeting at the White House \u2013 coincidentally, the 10th anniversary of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-star-trek-debuts-begins-an-enduring-relationship-with-nasa\/\">debut of the original TV show<\/a> on NBC \u2013 President Ford advised NASA Administrator Fletcher that he was partial to the name Enterprise, saying, \u201cIt is a distinguished name in American naval history, with a long tradition of courage and endurance. It is also a name familiar to millions of faithful followers of the science fiction television program <em>Star Trek<\/em>. To explore the frontiers of space, there is no better ship than the space shuttle, and no better name for that ship than the Enterprise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout sep 17 1976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_8_sep_17_1976.jpg\" width=\"240\" height=\"235\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout sep 17 1976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_9_sep_17_1976.jpg\" width=\"248\" height=\"235\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout sep 17 1976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_10_sep_17_1976.jpg\" width=\"238\" height=\"235\"><br>\n<em>Three views of the Sept. 17, 1976 rollout of space shuttle Enterprise at Rockwell<br>\nInternational\u2019s Palmdale, California, facility.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the vehicle made its public debut at Rockwell\u2019s Palmdale, California, facility, on Sept. 17, 1976, it bore the name Enterprise. More than 600 invited guests and 185 media representatives attended the ceremony. John F. Yardley, NASA associate administrator for the Office of Space Flight, opened the event and served as master of ceremonies. In his remarks, NASA Administrator Fletcher called the rollout a \u201cvery proud moment for the agency,\u201d adding that the new reusable space transportation system will \u201cbenefit this nation and all the nations of the world.\u201d He then directed that Enterprise begin the rollout. As Enterprise emerged from the hangar, the Air Force Band of the Golden West from March Air Force Base in Riverside County, California, played Alexander Courage\u2019s <em>Star Trek<\/em> musical score. Several <em>Star Trek<\/em> cast members as well as the show\u2019s creator Gene Roddenberry were on hand to witness the historic event, as were the four astronauts who were scheduled to conduct the approach and landing tests with Enterprise \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HaiseFW\/haisefw.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Fred W. Haise<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/FullertonCG\/fullertoncg.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">C. Gordon Fullerton<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/EngleJH\/englejh.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe H. Engle<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/NASA_HQ\/Administrators\/TrulyRH\/trulyrh.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Richard H. Truly<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout sep 17 1976 w star trek cast fletcher\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_11_sep_17_1976_w_star_trek_cast_fletcher.jpg\" width=\"277\" height=\"240\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout at palmdale w alt crews sep 17 1976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_12_at_palmdale_w_alt_crews_sep_17_1976_s76-29562.jpg\" width=\"301\" height=\"240\"><br>\n<em>Left:  NASA Administrator Fletcher, left, accompanied by several cast members and<br>\nthe creator of the TV series <\/em>Star Trek<em> at Enterprise\u2019s rollout. Right: Astronauts<br>\nC. Gordon Fullerton, left, Fred W. Haise, Joe H. Engle, and Richard H. Truly<br>\npose in front of Enterprise on the day of its rollout.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following day, workers rolled Enterprise out once again, this time for the benefit of the general public and Rockwell International employees. As a comparison with earlier spacecraft, the Apollo 14 Command Module Kitty Hawk was displayed next to Enterprise. More than 35,000 people came to see the new space shuttle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout public sep 18 1976\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_13_public_sep_18_1976.jpg\" width=\"302\" height=\"205\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout public sep 18 1976 w apollo 14 cm just behind stdb wing\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_14_public_sep_18_1976_w_apollo_14_cm_just_behind_stdb_wing.jpg\" width=\"284\" height=\"205\"><br>\n<em>Left: Space shuttle Enterprise on display for the general public and Rockwell<br>\nInternational employees. Right: The Apollo 14 Command Module Kitty Hawk is<br>\nvisible behind Enterprise\u2019s starboard wingtip.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After additional testing at Palmdale, in January 1977 workers trucked Enterprise 36 miles overland to NASA\u2019s Dryden Flight Research Center, now NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center, at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where the space shuttle began preparations for the approach and landing tests. Placed atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing 747, Enterprise began taxi runs in February, followed by the first captive inactive flight later that month. The first captive active flight that included a crew aboard the shuttle took place in June, and Enterprise made its first independent flight on Aug. 12, 1977, with Haise and Fullerton at the controls. Four additional approach and landing flights were completed by October to complete the test program. Over the next few years, NASA used Enterprise to conduct various tests to prepare its sister ships for space flights, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-space-shuttle-enterprise-rolls-to-the-pad\/\">fit checks at Launch Pad 39A<\/a> at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 1979.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"enterprise rollout at intrepid museum\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_15_at_intrepid_museum.jpg\" width=\"578\" height=\"180\"><br>\n<em>Space shuttle Enterprise<\/em><em> in the Shuttle Pavilion at the <\/em><em>Intrepid Sea,<br>\nAir & Space Museum in New York City. <br>\n<strong>Credit: Image courtesy Intrepid Museum<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2003, the Smithsonian Institution\u2019s National Air and Space Museum displayed Enterprise at its newly-opened Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. In 2012, Enterprise was moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City where it is currently on display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>John Uri<br>NASA Johnson Space Center<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Sept. 17, 1976, NASA rolled out its first space shuttle, named Enterprise, from its manufacturing plant in Palmdale, California. The story of Enterprise officially began on Jan. 5, 1972, when President Richard M. Nixon directed NASA to build the partially reusable space transportation system, stating that \u201cit would revolutionize transportation into near space.\u201d NASA [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":170067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,2725],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"45 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Enterprise Makes its Public Debut","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/45-years-ago-space-shuttle-enterprise-makes-its-public-debut\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/45-years-ago-space-shuttle-enterprise-makes-its-public-debut\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_1_nixon_and_fletcher_with_shuttle_model_1972.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_1_nixon_and_fletcher_with_shuttle_model_1972.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Uri"}],"creator":["John Uri"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Space Shuttle","NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2021-09-17T18:52:00Z","datePublished":"2021-09-17T18:52:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-20T18:03:27Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"45 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Enterprise Makes its Public Debut\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/45-years-ago-space-shuttle-enterprise-makes-its-public-debut\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_1_nixon_and_fletcher_with_shuttle_model_1972.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-09-17T18:52:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Space Shuttle,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":6,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":170067,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/enterprise_rollout_1_nixon_and_fletcher_with_shuttle_model_1972.jpg","title":"enterprise_rollout_1_nixon_and_fletcher_with_shuttle_model_1972","alt":"enterprise rollout nixon and fletcher with shuttle model 1972","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168399"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168399"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":505826,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168399\/revisions\/505826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/170067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168399"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=168399"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=168399"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}