NASA Shuttle Enterprise Press Kit 1st Free Glide Flight
NASA Shuttle Enterprise Press Kit 1st Free Glide Flight
NASA Shuttle Enterprise Press Kit 1st Free Glide Flight
News
Space Administration
,_ AUQ i,,o77
Washmglon. D C 20546
AC 202 755-8370
F_,r Release
David Garrett
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. IMMEDIATE
(Phone: 202/755-3090)
Robert Gordon
Johnson Space Center, Houston, Tex.
(Phone: 713/483-5111)
Ralph B. Jackson
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.
(Phone: 805/258-8311)
atop a 747 carrier aircraft for the first free flight approach
of about 6,738 meters (22,100 feet) above ground level. The free
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\\ August 3, 1977
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flights.
Takeoff time for the flight is 8 a.m. PDT (ii a.m. EDT)
this pattern: °
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than 60 m (200 ft.) in about five seconds. The 747 will turn
separation.
to the left which will align the vehicle with a lakebed runway.
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\
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the touchdown point, 500 km/hr (310 mph) EAS flight path
-9 degrees.
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into low Earth orbit in 1979 with its three main engines
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The crew module and aft fuselage were fabricated by the prime
Farmingdale, N.Y.
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operational in 1980.
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ALT FREE FLIGHT TIMELTNE
T+O0
Separation
Point
Note
Events and times are preliminary and may change prior to and during
flight and are dependent upon atmospheric and flight conditions.
Altitudes are Above Ground Level (AGL) and are referenced to Orbiter
ground aim point on the runway. Add 2,300 feet to AGL to obtain
altitude above Mean Sea Level (MSL).
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Weight of the 747 at the start of the taxi tests was approxi-
mately 4OO,000 lbs. and the Orbiter weight was approximately
154,OO0 lbs. The nose of the mated Orbiter is at a +6 degree
altitude atop the 757.
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Full braking of the 747 was used for the first time upon
landing in a simulated "short" runway situation. 747 braked
to stop in less than 6,000 ft.
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Spacecraft Commander Joe Engle and Pilot Dick Truly were at the
controls of the Space Shuttle Orbiter during this second manned
captive flight. This flight consisted of a modified racetrack-
like trajectory as well as a "Grand Prix" roadrace-like trajectory.
The SCA crew then applied Special Rated Thrust (SRT) to the 747
engines for the climb, a pushover, and acceleration of the mated
craft to approximately 270 KEAS (310 mph). The Orbiter and SCA
crews again applied inputs to their respective craft control
surfaces for a high-speed flutter test followed again by the
deployment of the Orbiter's speedbrake at a 60, 80, and lO0
per cent deployment. The low and high speed flutter tests
assessed the accuracy of predicted control surface responses
and structural characteristics with respect to aerodynamic
vibration.
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