Enterprise to orbit: The Space Shuttle Pavilion Experience at Inrepid

The Space Shuttle Enterprise (OV-101) never went to space but was pivotal in testing NASA’s approach to reusable spacecraft. It now serves as the centerpiece of the museum’s Space Shuttle Pavilion.

• Official name: Space Shuttle Enterprise (OV-101)
  
• Built in: Completed on 17 September 1976
  
• Date of launch: First glide flight on 12 August 1977
  
• Location within the museum: Flight Deck

The Space Shuttle Enterprise was the first orbiter built for NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Although it never flew in space, it played a crucial role in the Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) conducted at Edwards Air Force Base in 1977. These tests validated the shuttle’s aerodynamic properties during unpowered descent and landing, laying the groundwork for later orbiters like Columbia and Discovery.

Enterprise also served as a test article for structural and vibration tests and was briefly considered for retrofitting into a space-worthy orbiter, though this never materialized. Named after the iconic starship from Star Trek following a fan campaign, Enterprise became a symbol of American innovation and the next step in space exploration after Apollo. It toured internationally in the 1980s and was later displayed at the Smithsonian before being transferred to the Intrepid Museum in 2012.