 each nasa space shuttle designation is composed of a prefix and suffix separated by a dash. the prefix for operational shuttles is ov, for orbiter vehicle. the suffix is composed of two parts: the series and the vehicle number. series: * 0 - non-flight ready shuttles * 1 - flight ready shuttles the vehicle number is sequentially assigned within the series, beginning with 1. therefore, there can never be an ov-100 as it would read "orbiter vehicle series 1 vehicle 0". many proposals to build a second generation of orbiters, externally compatible with the current system but internally new, refer to them as "ov-200" or "ov-2xx" in order to differentiate them from the "current generation", the ov-100s. this terminology is informal, and it is unlikely that any shuttle-derived vehicle built will be given such designation. ==orbiter designations== *ov-099 - space shuttle challenger, originally sta-099 *ov-101 - space shuttle enterprise *ov-102 - space shuttle columbia *ov-103 - space shuttle discovery *ov-104 - space shuttle atlantis *ov-105 - space shuttle endeavour challenger was originally intended to be used as a structural test article, rather than a flight-capable orbiter; as such, the numbering was changed when she was rebuilt. enterprise, on the other hand, was intended to be rebuilt into a flight-capable orbiter; it was found to be cheaper to rebuild sta-099 than ov-101, so she remained unflown. the designations were not altered, despite these changes in plans. ==other official designations== in keeping with this theme, other pieces of ground hardware used by the space shuttle program have been given official designations; these include: *ov-095 - a mockup in the shuttle avionics integration laboratory (sail) at johnson space center. *sta-096 - environmental control and life support system structural test article *sta-097 - vibro acoustic (mid fuselage) structural test article *mpta-098 - the main propulsion test article (see below) *ov-106 - an administrative name given to the set of structural components manufactured to replace those used in the construction of endeavour; however, the contract for these was cancelled shortly afterwards, and they were never completed. the 096 and 097 designators were given to structural test articles that were cancelled, but while they exist in some nasa records, the nasa history office has no official record of sta-096 and sta-097.space transportation system haer no. tx-116, page 55 retrieved 06-24-2014 ==unofficial and honorary designations== one structural mockup has been given an retroa
Space_Shuttle_program