|
Author
|
Topic: Photo of the week 342 (May 21, 2011)
|
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 05-21-2011 02:52 AM
   
 With the end of the Space Shuttle program approaching, I selected a series of photos showing two orbiters in one shot. I will post these in the coming weeks. Columbia (background) and Enterprise at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, photographed on July 11, 1985. Columbia had just been transported to Dryden from Palmdale for the ferry flight back to Kennedy Space Center, after undergoing modifications. Ed Hengeveld |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
|
posted 05-21-2011 03:49 AM
What a great photo. It looks like an airport! "Your attention, please. Flight 1701, Shuttle Enterprise, now boarding at Gate 2." |
Henry Heatherbank
Member Posts: 244
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Registered: Apr 2005
|
posted 05-21-2011 04:23 AM
The SSMEs in this photograph are interesting. First, Columbia hasn't got any. Second, Enterprise's are clearly not even high fidelity test articles. Anybody know what material these ones were made from?...also, what was Enterprise doing out on the apron in July 1985? Where had she been? Where was she going? |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 05-21-2011 04:47 AM
Enterprise had just returned from Vandenberg AFB, where it was used for fit checks on the launch pad. After this photo it was used for emergency landing rehearsals at Dryden in August 1985. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 05-21-2011 08:00 AM
Well, STS lasted for 30 years... that's all.  |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 05-21-2011 08:53 AM
Another great photo. Thank you for sharing with us on collectSPACE. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 05-21-2011 09:00 AM
quote:
Originally posted by heng44:
After this photo it was used for emergency landing rehearsals at Dryden in August 1985.
After that, Enterprise was transferred to the Smithsonian (the institution accepted the prototype into the national collection in 1985). |
OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
|
posted 05-21-2011 06:47 PM
Columbia has Enterprise's dummy OMS pods on. They always kept Enterprise outside at Dryden. There was really no space for her in a hanger. I got to see her up close just before this happened on the tour at Dryden. A lot of fun that year going to landings at Edwards and then going to the gift shop to get patches and pins. Thanks Dad I miss you. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 07-08-2011 04:10 PM
Does the missing engines have an adverse affect on the ferrying process? |
OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
|
posted 07-09-2011 09:15 AM
It might help with fuel for the flight since there is less weight on the shuttle. They still have the tailcone on the back end so the air flow is still the same as any other shuttle transport flights. There might be a small CG shift but nothing too big I would think. |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 07-09-2011 11:28 AM
Thanks for the response. If they was a CG difference, maybe they would load some internal weight the to carrier plane. |
OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
|
posted 07-09-2011 07:29 PM
I remember that STS-114 was the heaviest ferry flight. They had to add ballast into the crew cabin of the shuttle for the trip back to Florida since the MPLM was so packed. |
advertisement