# Enterprise

> American Space Shuttle test vehicle

**Wikidata**: [Q202347](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q202347)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Enterprise)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/enterprise

## Summary
The **Enterprise** (designation OV-101) was the first Space Shuttle orbiter manufactured by Rockwell International. Designed as a test vehicle, it served as a prototype to verify the aerodynamic and handling qualities of the Shuttle fleet during atmospheric flight and landing. Although it never flew in space, the Enterprise is currently preserved as an exhibit at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan.

## Key Facts
- **Designation:** Serial number OV-101 (Orbital Vehicle 101).
- **Type:** Space Shuttle orbiter; instance of a test article and exhibit.
- **Manufacturer:** Rockwell International (contract awarded July 16, 1972).
- **Dimensions:** Length 37.237 meters; Height 17.86 meters; Wingspan 23.79 meters.
- **Mass:** 68,027 kilograms (gross weight).
- **First Flight:** February 18, 1977 (maiden flight/test flight).
- **Assembly Location:** Air Force Plant 42 (assembly began June 4, 1974).
- **Current Location:** Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Manhattan (exhibition started July 19, 2012).
- **Heritage Status:** Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (March 13, 2013; Ref: 13000071).
- **Named After:** USS Enterprise.

## FAQs
### Q: Did the Enterprise ever go into space?
No, the Enterprise was constructed as a test article and was not equipped with engines or a heat shield necessary for spaceflight. It was used strictly for atmospheric flight tests, including Approach and Landing Tests (ALT), to validate the orbiter's design.

### Q: Where is the Space Shuttle Enterprise currently located?
The Enterprise is currently on display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan. It was moved to this location in 2012 after being transferred from the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.

### Q: When was the Enterprise rolled out for the public?
The Enterprise was officially rolled out on September 17, 1976, at the Rockwell International plant in Palmdale, California.

### Q: Who owned the Enterprise after its retirement?
Ownership transferred from NASA to the Smithsonian Institution in 1985. In 2011, ownership was transferred back to NASA briefly before the shuttle was gifted to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

## Why It Matters
The Enterprise holds a pivotal role in aerospace history as the prototype for the United States Space Shuttle program. As the first orbiter off the assembly line, it provided the critical data needed to validate the unpowered landing profile that all subsequent operational shuttles would use upon returning from orbit. Through the Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) conducted in 1977, including free flights launched from a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, the Enterprise proved that a winged spacecraft could glide to a safe landing.

Beyond its technical contributions, the Enterprise served as a powerful symbol of American space exploration during its active testing phase and subsequent museum exhibitions. Its presence in major institutions—first at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center and now at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum—educates millions about the engineering challenges of reusable spacecraft. Its designation as a National Register of Historic Places listed place (structure) in 2013 further cements its status as a national landmark of technological achievement.

## Notable For
- **First Orbiter:** Being the very first Space Shuttle orbiter manufactured (OV-101), serving as the template for all future shuttles.
- **Atmospheric Testing:** Conducting critical Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) beginning in 1977 to prove the vehicle's airworthiness and gliding capabilities.
- **National Landmark:** Being the only Space Shuttle orbiter listed on the National Register of Historic Places (since 2013).
- **Pop Culture Namesake:** Originally planned to be named *Constitution*, it was eventually named *Enterprise* due to a write-in campaign from fans of the TV show *Star Trek* (referenced via named_after: USS Enterprise in source).
- **Museum Transfers:** Having a distinct post-retirement history that included storage at Washington Dulles International Airport and transfer from the Smithsonian to the Intrepid Museum.

## Body

### Development and Manufacturing
The Enterprise was manufactured by **Rockwell International**. The contract for the orbiter was awarded on July 16, 1972, with assembly taking place at **Air Force Plant 42**. Construction began on June 4, 1974, and was completed by March 12, 1976. The vehicle was officially rolled out on September 17, 1976. While originally designated OV-101, it was designed as a test article rather than a space-ready vehicle, lacking the thermal protection system and main engines required for orbital flight.

### Testing History
The Enterprise's primary mission was to verify the Shuttle's flight characteristics within the atmosphere.
- **Maiden Flight:** The first flight occurred on February 18, 1977.
- **Free Flight Tests:** Captive-active flights and free flights were conducted in 1977 to test separation from the 747 carrier aircraft and subsequent glide performance.
- **Notable imagery:** A famous image from September 26, 1977, depicts the Enterprise in free flight during its second approach and landing test.

### Specifications
The Enterprise shares the physical dimensions of the operational shuttles:
- **Length:** 37.237 meters
- **Height:** 17.86 meters
- **Wingspan:** 23.79 meters
- **Gross Weight:** 68,027 kilograms

### Ownership and Exhibition History
Following its service retirement on November 18, 1985, the Enterprise began a new life as a museum artifact.
- **1985–2011:** Ownership was transferred to the **Smithsonian Institution**. It was in the collection of the **National Air and Space Museum** and stored at Washington Dulles International Airport until 2003, when it was moved to the **Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center**.
- **2011:** NASA transferred ownership back to the agency briefly before transferring it to the **Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum**.
- **2012–Present:** The Enterprise was flown to New York on April 27, 2012 (its last ferry flight) and placed on exhibition at the Intrepid Museum in Manhattan starting July 19, 2012.

### Recognition
In addition to its role in the Space Shuttle program, the Enterprise is recognized as a heritage site. It was listed on the **National Register of Historic Places** on March 13, 2013 (Reference Number: 13000071), recognized under criteria A and C as an NRHP structure.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/transition/placement/enterprise_transfer.html)
2. [Source](http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-112311a.html)
3. [Source](http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/shuttle/resources/orbiters/enterprise.html)
4. [Source](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/space-shuttle-enterprise-the-orbiter-that-started-it-all/)
5. [Source](https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-jul-05-la-fi-shuttle-legacy-20110705-story.html)
6. [Source](https://www.space.com/16255-space-shuttle-enterprise-nyc-display.html)
7. [Source](https://history.nasa.gov/pocketstats/sect%20B/Shuttle%20ALT.pdf)
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Source](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19760025136)
10. [Source](https://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2006/april/i_history.html)
11. [Source](https://www.nj.com/news/2012/04/space_shuttle_enterprise_lands.html)
12. [Source](https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/Space_Shuttle_Pavilion)
13. National Register of Historic Places
14. [Source](https://maps.intrepidmuseum.org/main-page/flight-deck/640-enterprise/)
15. [Source](http://www.astronautix.com/e/enterprise.html)
16. [Source](https://www.google.com/maps?cid=5285135240495609297)
17. KBpedia