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SPACE SHUTTLE
APPROACH AND LANDING TESTS
Written and
Edited 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:
Joseph 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
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