Space Shuttle Enterprise Approach and Landing Tests Nasa Dryden (1977)

Synopsis

This Rockwell International film shows some of the events of 1977 when, as part of approach and landing tests at Edwards Air Force Base, the Space Shuttle Enterprise made captive flights and then flew on its own for the first time. The title of the film A SPACESHIP LANDED ON EARTH became part of a larger advertising campaign for Rockwell affiliated with the test program. Free-flights that are shown in the represented the end of the flight testing program. These saw Enterprise mated to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and carried to a launch altitude, before being jettisoned by the use of explosive bolts to glide to a landing on the runways at Edwards AFB. The intention of these flights was to test the flight characteristics of the orbiter itself, on a typical approach and landing profile from orbit. There were a total of five free-flights between August and October. As shown in this film, the first three saw Enterprise remain fitted with its aerodynamic tail cone, intended to reduce drag and buffetting when mounted on the SCA during flight. The final two had the tail cone removed, with the orbiter in its full operational configuration, with dummy main engines and OMS pods. Enterprise used an air data probe mounted on its nose for these flights. These five flights were to be the only time Enterprise flew alone. After flying missions on Columbia (STS-2) and Discovery (STS-51-I), Engle reported that the flight and handling characteristics of the operational orbiters were similar to…

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Details

Running time

6 minutes

Language

English

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Stock Footage