SPACE SHUTTLE APPROACH AND LANDING TESTS
By Cliff Lethbridge
A series of Space Shuttle Approach and Landing tests were conducted by Space Shuttle Enterprise in association with Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) N905NA between February 15, 1977 and October 26, 1977. These flights were divided into four categories.
1. Taxi Tests were intended to verify the taxi characteristics of the SCA on the runway while mated to Space Shuttle Enterprise. The Taxi Tests did not involve any flight time. No crew was aboard Enterprise for the three Taxi Tests.
2. Captive-Inert Flights were intended to verify the handling characteristics of the SCA in flight while mated to Space Shuttle Enterprise. No crew was aboard Enterprise for the five Captive-Inert Flights.
3. Captive-Active Flights were intended to determine the best profile that Space Shuttle Enterprise should observe in separating from the SCA during upcoming Free Flights. Captive-Active Flights were also intended to refine and test crew procedures and verify operational readiness of various Enterprise systems. Two astronauts were aboard Enterprise for the three Captive-Active Flights, although Enterprise remained mated to the SCA for the duration of these flights.
4. Free Flights were intended to verify the airworthiness of the Space Shuttle design, test on-board systems and test both manual and automatic Space Shuttle landing methods. Two astronauts were aboard Enterprise for the five Free Flights, during which Enterprise was separated from the SCA by the detonation of explosive bolts. Enterprise would then complete a free flight and landing.
All Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests were conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, California, with landings either at the concrete runway (04/22) or the dry lake bed runway (17).
SCA Crew For All Tests:
Fitzhugh L. Fulton, Jr., Pilot
Thomas C. McMurtry, Pilot
Louis E. Guidry, Jr., Flight Engineer
Victor W. Horton, Flight Engineer
Enterprise Crew #1:
Fred W. Haise, Jr.
Charles G. “Gordon” Fullerton
Enterprise Crew #2:
Joe H. Engle
Richard H. Truly
Taxi Test #1:
Date: February 15, 1977
Maximum Speed: 89 m.p.h.
Braking Speed: 27 m.p.h.
Runway: Concrete
Taxi Test #2:
Date: February 15, 1977
Maximum Speed: 140 m.p.h.
Braking Speed: 23 m.p.h.
Runway: Concrete
Taxi Test #3:
Date: February 15, 1977
Maximum Speed: 157 m.p.h.
Braking Speed: 57 m.p.h.
Runway: Concrete
Captive-Inert Flight #1:
Date: February 18, 1977
Duration: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Maximum Speed: 287 m.p.h.
Maximum Altitude: 16,000 feet
Runway: Concrete
Captive-Inert Flight #2:
Date: February 22, 1977
Duration: 3 hours, 13 minutes
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Maximum Speed: 328 m.p.h.
Maximum Altitude: 22,600 feet
Runway: Concrete
Captive-Inert Flight #3:
Date: February 25, 1977
Duration: 2 hours, 28 minutes
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Maximum Speed: 425 m.p.h.
Maximum Altitude: 26,600 feet
Runway: Concrete
Captive-Inert Flight #4:
Date: February 28, 1977
Duration: 2 hours, 11 minutes
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Maximum Speed: 425 m.p.h.
Maximum Altitude: 28,565 feet
Runway: Concrete
Captive-Inert Flight #5:
Date: March 2, 1977
Duration: 1 hour, 39 minutes
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Maximum Speed: 474 m.p.h.
Maximum Altitude: 30,000 feet
Runway: Concrete
Captive-Active Flight #1:
Date: June 18, 1977
Enterprise Crew: Haise, Fullerton
Duration: 55 minutes, 46 seconds
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Maximum Speed: 208 m.p.h.
Maximum Altitude: 14,970 feet
Runway: Concrete
Captive-Active Flight #2:
Date: June 28, 1977
Enterprise Crew: Engle, Truly
Duration: 62 minutes, 0 seconds
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Maximum Speed: 310 m.p.h.
Maximum Altitude: 22,030 feet
Runway: Concrete
Captive-Active Flight #3:
Date: July 26, 1977
Enterprise Crew: Haise, Fullerton
Duration: 59 minutes, 53 seconds
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Maximum Speed: 311 m.p.h.
Maximum Altitude: 30,292 feet
Runway: Concrete
Free Flight #1:
Date: August 12, 1977
Enterprise Crew: Haise, Fullerton
Duration: 5 minutes, 21 seconds
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Launch Speed: 310 m.p.h.
Launch Altitude: 24,100 feet
Landing Speed: 213 m.p.h.
Runway: Dry Lake Bed
Free Flight #2:
Date: September 13, 1977
Enterprise Crew: Engle, Truly
Duration: 5 minutes, 28 seconds
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Launch Speed: 310 m.p.h.
Launch Altitude: 26,000 feet
Landing Speed: 225 m.p.h.
Runway: Dry Lake Bed
Free Flight #3:
Date: September 23, 1977
Enterprise Crew: Haise, Fullerton
Duration: 5 minutes, 34 seconds
Enterprise Tailcone: On
Launch Speed: 290 m.p.h.
Launch Altitude: 24,700 feet
Landing Speed: 221 m.p.h.
Runway: Dry Lake Bed
Free Flight #4:
Date: October 12, 1977
Enterprise Crew: Engle, Truly
Duration: 2 minutes, 34 seconds
Enterprise Tailcone: Off
Launch Speed: 278 m.p.h.
Launch Altitude: 22,400 feet
Landing Speed: 230 m.p.h.
Runway: Dry Lake Bed
Free Flight #5:
Date: October 26, 1977
Enterprise Crew: Haise, Fullerton
Duration: 2 minutes, 1 second
Enterprise Tailcone: Off
Launch Speed: 283 m.p.h.
Launch Altitude: 19,000 feet
Landing Speed: 219 m.p.h.
Runway: Concrete
SELECTED NASA PHOTOS FROM APPROACH AND LANDING TESTS
