Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Space Shuttle Enterprise
open-in-new
<p>Space Shuttle <i>Enterprise</i> (<a href="/facts/Orbiter_Vehicle_Designation/pD50Txk9">Orbiter Vehicle Designation</a>: OV-101) was the first <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_orbiter/pD50Txk9">orbiter</a> of the <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle/7BoyetEv">Space Shuttle</a> system. Rolled out on September 17, 1976, it was built for <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> as part of the <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_program/6Ikdvwsw">Space Shuttle program</a> to perform atmospheric test flights after being launched from a <a href="/facts/Shuttle_Carrier_Aircraft/9FA26jED">modified Boeing 747</a>. It was constructed without <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_main_engine/vGkj6Vxm">engines</a> or a functional <a href="/facts/Heat_shield/YvRhkzAz">heat shield</a>. As a result, it was not capable of <a href="/facts/Spaceflight/zPrnATzo">spaceflight</a>. </p><p>Originally, <i>Enterprise</i> had been intended to be refitted for <a href="/facts/Orbital_flight/xdzKmkvt">orbital flight</a> to become the second space-rated orbiter in service. However, during the construction of <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle/7BoyetEv">Space Shuttle</a> <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Columbia/uF51RXWM"><i>Columbia</i></a>, details of the final design changed, making it simpler and less costly to build <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Challenger/K4dGtVCC"><i>Challenger</i></a> around a body frame that had been built as a <a href="/facts/Test_article_(aerospace)/Kv1d5mLm">test article</a>. Similarly, <i>Enterprise</i> was considered for refit to replace <i>Challenger</i> after the latter <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster/HMBh3T7Q">was destroyed</a>, but <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Endeavour/fcX8nN5Q"><i>Endeavour</i></a> was built from structural spares instead. </p><p><i>Enterprise</i> was restored and placed on display in 2003 at the <a href="/facts/Smithsonian_Institution/pqC74ta9">Smithsonian</a>'s new <a href="/facts/Steven_F._Udvar-Hazy_Center/SPGdDfmT">Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center</a> in Virginia. Following the <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_retirement/XtqS0N5n">retirement</a> of the Space Shuttle fleet, <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Discovery/MmSTr4G0"><i>Discovery</i></a> replaced <i>Enterprise</i> at the Udvar-Hazy Center, and <i>Enterprise</i> was transferred to the <a href="/facts/Intrepid_Museum/uG8qCBDN"><i>Intrepid</i> Museum</a> in New York City, where it has been on display since July 2012. </p>