List of Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flights

Last updated February 19, 2022

A 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft carrying the space shuttle Atlantis taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on 1 July 2007 STS117TakeoffEdwardsSCA.jpg — A 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft carrying the space shuttle *Atlantis* taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on 1 July 2007

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft ferry flights generally originated at Edwards Air Force Base in California or on one occasion White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico following missions which landed there, especially in the early days of the Space Shuttle program or when weather at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at Kennedy Space Center prevented ending missions there. Flights generally ended at the SLF. A number of flights began at Armstrong Flight Research Center following delivery of the orbiter from Rockwell International to NASA from the nearby facilities in Palmdale, California.^[1]^[2]

Ferry Flights

November 15, 1977 Enterprise, ferry flight test started and ended at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, lasted 3 hours, 21 minutes
November 16, 1977 Enterprise, ferry flight test started and ended at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, lasted 4 hours, 17 minutes
November 17, 1977 Enterprise, ferry flight test started and ended at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, lasted 4 hours, 13 minutes
November 18, 1977 Enterprise, ferry flight test started and ended at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, lasted 3 hours, 37 minutes
December 9, 1977 Enterprise, approach and landing flight tests Armstrong Flight Research Center, lasted 3 hours, 37 minutes
March 10–13, 1978 Enterprise, ferry flight from Armstrong Flight Research Center to Marshall Space Flight Center (via Ellington Air Force Base) for vertical ground vibration tests at MSFC.
April 10, 1979 Enterprise, ferry flight from Marshall Space Flight Center to Kennedy Space Center following vertical ground vibration tests at MSFC.
August 10–16, 1979 Enterprise transported from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Armstrong Flight Research Center in California (via Atlanta, St. Louis, Tulsa, Denver, Hill Air Force Base Utah, Vandenberg Air Force Base) following static tests at KSC

May 16-June 12, 1983 Enterprise, tour of the United States, Canada and Europe. From Edwards Air Force Base to Peterson Air Force Base, McConnell Air Force Base, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, CFB Goose Bay, Keflavik Naval Air Station, RAF Fairford (20 May), Cologne Bonn Airport, Paris Air Show (arrived 24 May), Ciampino Airport, Stansted Airport, Ottawa International Airport, Scott Air Force Base and Sheppard Air Force Base.^[3]^[4]
March 22–29, 1984 Enterprise, ferry flight from Edwards Air Force Base to Brookley Air Force Base (via Vandenberg Air Force Base) for overland and barge transport to the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition.
November 10–13, 1984 Enterprise, ferry flight from Brookley Air Force Base to Edwards Air Force Base (via Kansas City) following the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition.
November 10–13, 1984 Enterprise, ferry flight from Edwards Air Force Base to Vandenberg Air Force Base

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flights excluding *Enterprise*^[5]
#	Mission	SCA	Orbiter	Leg count	Date	Leg
1	Delivery to KSC	905	Columbia (OV-102)	4	20/03/1979	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					22/03/1979	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					23/03/1979	Kelly Field - Eglin AFB
					24/03/1979	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
2	STS-1	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	27/04/1981	Edwards AFB - Tinker AFB
2	STS-1	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	28/04/1981	Tinker AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
3	STS-2	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	24/11/1981	Edwards AFB - Bergstrom AFB
3	STS-2	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	25/11/1981	Bergstrom AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
4	STS-3	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	06/04/1982	White Sands Space Harbor - Barskdale AFB
4	STS-3	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	06/04/1982	Barskdale AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
5	Delivery to KSC	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	04/07/1982	Edwards AFB - Ellington Field
5	Delivery to KSC	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	05/07/1982	Ellington Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
6	STS-4	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	14/07/1982	Edwards AFB - Dyess AFB
6	STS-4	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	15/07/1982	Dyess AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
7	STS-5	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	21/11/1982	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
7	STS-5	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	22/11/1982	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
8	STS-6	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	14/04/1983	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
8	STS-6	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	14/04/1983	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
9	STS-7	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	28/06/1983	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
9	STS-7	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	29/06/1983	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
10	STS-8	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	09/09/1983	Edwards AFB - Sheppard AFB
10	STS-8	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	09/09/1983	Sheppard AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
11	Delivery to KSC	905	Discovery (OV-103)	3	06/11/1983	Edwards AFB - Vandenberg AFB
					08/11/1983	Vandenberg AFB - Carswell AFB
					09/11/1983	Carswell AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
12	STS-9	905	Columbia (OV-102)	4	14/12/1983	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					14/12/1983	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					15/12/1983	Kelly Field - Eglin AFB
					15/12/1983	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
13	Mods	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	26/01/1984	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - Kelly Field
13	Mods	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	27/01/1984	Kelly Field - Edwards AFB
14	STS-41C	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	17/04/1984	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
14	STS-41C	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	18/04/1984	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
15	STS-41D	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	09/09/1984	Edwards AFB - Altus AFB
15	STS-41D	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	10/09/1984	Altus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
16	Delivery to KSC	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	12/04/1985	Edwards AFB - Ellington Field
16	Delivery to KSC	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	13/04/1985	Ellington Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
17	STS-51-B	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	10/05/1985	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
17	STS-51-B	905	Challenger (OV-099)	2	11/05/1985	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
18	STS-51-G	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	28/06/1985	Edwards AFB - Bergstrom AFB
18	STS-51-G	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	28/06/1985	Bergstrom AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
19	Mods	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	14/07/1985	Edwards AFB - Offut AFB
19	Mods	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	14/07/1985	Offut AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
20	STS-51-F	905	Challenger (OV-099)	4	10/08/1985	Edwards AFB - Davis-Monthan AFB
					10/08/1985	Davis-Monthan AFB - Kelly Field
					11/08/1985	Kelly Field - Eglin AFB
					11/08/1985	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
21	STS-51-I	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	07/09/1985	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
21	STS-51-I	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	08/09/1985	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
22	STS-51-J	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	11/10/1985	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
22	STS-51-J	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	11/10/1985	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
23	STS-61-A	905	Challenger (OV-099)	4	10/11/1985	Edwards AFB - Davis-Monthan AFB
					10/11/1985	Davis-Monthan AFB - Kelly Field
					11/11/1985	Kelly Field - Eglin AFB
					11/11/1985	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
24	STS-61-B	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	07/12/1985	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
24	STS-61-B	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	07/12/1985	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
25	STS-61-C	905	Columbia (OV-102)	4	22/01/1986	Edwards AFB - Davis-Monthan AFB
					22/01/1986	Davis-Monthan AFB - Kelly Field
					23/01/1986	Kelly Field - Eglin AFB
					23/01/1986	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
26	STS-26	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	08/10/1988	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
26	STS-26	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	08/10/1988	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
27	STS-27	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	3	11/12/1988	Edwards AFB - Davis-Monthan AFB
					12/12/1988	Davis-Monthan AFB - Kelly Field
					13/12/1988	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
28	STS-29	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	23/03/1989	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
28	STS-29	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	24/03/1989	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
29	STS-30	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	4	13/05/1989	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					15/05/1989	Biggs Army Airfield - Dallas Fort Worth
					15/05/1989	Dallas Fort Worth - Robins AFB
					15/05/1989	Robins AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
30	STS-28	905	Columbia (OV-102)	4	18/08/1989	Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
					20/08/1989	Edwards AFB - Sheppard AFB
					20/08/1989	Sheppard AFB - Robins AFB
					21/08/1989	Robins AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
31	STS-34	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	3	28/10/1989	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					28/10/1989	Biggs Army Airfield - Columbus AFB
					29/10/1989	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
32	STS-33	905	Discovery (OV-103)	4	02/12/1989	Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
					03/12/1989	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
					03/12/1989	Kelly Field - Eglin AFB
					04/12/1989	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
33	STS-32	905	Columbia (OV-102)	3	25/01/1990	Edwards AFB - Davis-Monthan AFB
					25/01/1990	Davis-Monthan AFB - Kelly Field
					26/01/1990	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
34	STS-36	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	4	10/03/1990	Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
					11/03/1990	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					13/03/1990	Biggs Army Airfield - Columbus AFB
					13/03/1990	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
35	STS-31	905	Discovery (OV-103)	3	05/05/1990	Edwards AFB - Sheppard AFB
					06/05/1990	Sheppard AFB - Robins AFB
					07/05/1990	Robins AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
36	STS-41	905	Discovery (OV-103)	3	15/10/1990	Edwards AFB - Sheppard AFB
					15/10/1990	Sheppard AFB - Eglin AFB
					16/10/1990	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
37	STS-35	905	Columbia (OV-102)	5	16/12/1990	Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
					18/12/1990	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					18/12/1990	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					19/12/1990	Kelly Field - Barskdale AFB
					21/12/1990	Barskdale AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
38	STS-37	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	4	16/04/1991	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
					16/04/1991	Kelly Field - Columbus AFB
					17/04/1991	Columbus AFB - McDill AFB
					18/04/1991	McDill AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
39	Delivery to KSC	911	Endeavour (OV-105)	6	02/05/1991	Plant 42, Palmdale - Plant 42, Palmdale
					03/05/1991	Plant 42, Palmdale - Biggs Army Airfield
					05/05/1991	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					06/05/1991	Kelly Field - Ellington Field
					06/05/1991	Ellington Field - Columbus AFB
					07/05/1991	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
40	STS-40	905	Columbia (OV-102)	4	19/06/1991	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					20/06/1991	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					20/06/1991	Kelly Field - Columbus AFB
					21/06/1991	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
41	OMDP	911	Columbia (OV-102)	4	09/08/1991	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
					10/08/1991	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - McDill AFB
					12/08/1991	McDill AFB - Kelly Field
					13/08/1991	Kelly Field - Plant 42, Palmdale
42	STS-48	911	Discovery (OV-103)	4	24/09/1991	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					24/09/1991	Biggs Army Airfield - Tinker AFB
					25/09/1991	Tinker AFB - Columbus AFB
					26/09/1991	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
43	STS-44	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	07/12/1991	Edwards AFB - Sheppard AFB
43	STS-44	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	08/12/1991	Sheppard AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
44	OMDP	905	Columbia (OV-102)	3	07/02/1992	Plant 42, Palmdale - Plant 42, Palmdale
					09/02/1992	Plant 42, Palmdale - Kelly Field
					09/02/1992	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
45	STS-42	905	Discovery (OV-103)	5	11/02/1992	Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
					14/02/1992	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					15/02/1992	Biggs Army Airfield - Columbus AFB
					16/02/1992	Kelly Field - Columbus AFB
					16/02/1992	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
46	STS-49	911	Endeavour (OV-105)	4	21/05/1992	Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
					27/05/1992	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					29/05/1992	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					30/05/1992	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
47	OMDP	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	3	18/10/1992	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - Gregg County
					18/10/1992	Gregg County - Biggs Army Airfield
					18/10/1992	Biggs Army Airfield - Plant 42, Palmdale
48	STS-53	911	Discovery (OV-103)	3	15/12/1992	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
					18/12/1992	Kelly Field - Eglin AFB
					18/12/1992	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
49	STS-55	905	Columbia (OV-102)	4	11/05/1993	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					12/05/1993	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					12/05/1993	Kelly Field - Columbus AFB
					14/05/1993	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
50	STS-58	911	Columbia (OV-102)	4	07/11/1993	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					07/11/1993	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					07/11/1993	Kelly Field - Columbus AFB
					08/11/1993	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
51	STS-59	911	Endeavour (OV-105)	4	26/04/1994	Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
					30/04/1994	Edwards AFB - El Paso
					01/05/1994	El Paso - Little Rock AFB
					03/05/1994	Little Rock AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
52	OMDP	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	4	27/05/1994	Plant 42, Palmdale - Biggs Army Airfield
					28/05/1994	Biggs Army Airfield - Columbus AFB
					28/05/1994	Columbus AFB - Robins AFB
					29/05/1994	Robins AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
53	STS-64	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	26/09/1994	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
53	STS-64	905	Discovery (OV-103)	2	27/09/1994	Kelly Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
54	OMDP	905	Columbia (OV-102)	4	08/10/1994	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - Huntsville
					10/10/1994	Huntsville - Ellington Field
					11/10/1994	Ellington Field - Biggs Army Airfield
					11/10/1994	Biggs Army Airfield - Plant 42, Palmdale
55	STS-68	911	Endeavour (OV-105)	4	19/10/1994	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					19/10/1994	Biggs Army Airfield - Dyess AFB
					20/10/1994	Dyess AFB - Eglin AFB
					20/10/1994	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
56	STS-66	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	3	21/11/1994	Edwards AFB - Kelly Field
					21/11/1994	Kelly Field - Eglin AFB
					22/11/1994	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
57	STS-67	905	Endeavour (OV-105)	3	26/03/1995	Edwards AFB - Dyess AFB
					27/03/1995	Dyess AFB - Columbus AFB
					27/03/1995	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
58	OMDP	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	11/04/1995	Plant 42, Palmdale - Ellington Field
58	OMDP	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	14/04/1995	Ellington Field - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
59	OMDP	905	Discovery (OV-103)	3	27/09/1995	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - NASJRB Fort Worth
					27/09/1995	NASJRB Fort Worth - Salt Lake City
					28/09/1995	Salt Lake City - Plant 42, Palmdale
60	STS-76	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	5	06/04/1996	Edwards AFB - Edwards AFB
					11/04/1996	Edwards AFB - Davis-Monthan AFB
					11/04/1996	Davis-Monthan AFB - Dyess AFB
					12/04/1996	Dyess AFB - Eglin AFB
					12/04/1996	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
61	OMDP	911	Discovery (OV-103)	4	25/06/1996	Plant 42, Palmdale - Plant 42, Palmdale
					28/06/1996	Plant 42, Palmdale - Altus AFB
					28/06/1996	Altus AFB - Robins AFB
					29/06/1996	Robins AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
62	OMDP	911	Endeavour (OV-105)	2	30/07/1996	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - Kelly Field
62	OMDP	911	Endeavour (OV-105)	2	30/07/1996	Kelly Field - Plant 42, Palmdale
63	OMDP	905	Endeavour (OV-105)	4	25/03/1997	Plant 42, Palmdale - Plant 42, Palmdale
					26/03/1997	Plant 42, Palmdale - NASJRB Fort Worth
					26/03/1997	NASJRB Fort Worth - Robins AFB
					27/03/1997	Robins AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
64	OMDP	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	11/11/1997	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - Tinker AFB
64	OMDP	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	2	14/11/1997	Tinker AFB - Plant 42, Palmdale
65	OMDP	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	4	22/09/1998	Plant 42, Palmdale - Plant 42, Palmdale
					23/09/1998	Plant 42, Palmdale - Robert Gray Army Airfield
					23/09/1998	Robert Gray Army Airfield - Campbell Army Airfield
					27/09/1998	Campbell Army Airfield - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
66	OMM	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	24/09/1999	Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC - Whiteman AFB
66	OMM	905	Columbia (OV-102)	2	25/09/1999	Whiteman AFB - Plant 42, Palmdale
67	STS-92	905	Discovery (OV-103)	3	02/11/2000	Edwards AFB - Altus AFB
					02/11/2000	Altus AFB - Whiteman AFB
					03/11/2000	Whiteman AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
68	OMM	905	Columbia (OV-102)	3	01/03/2001	Plant 42, Palmdale - Dyess AFB
					04/03/2001	Dyess AFB - Cape Canaveral AFS
					05/03/2001	Cape Canaveral AFS - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
69	STS-98	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	4	01/03/2001	Edwards AFB - Altus AFB
					03/03/2001	Altus AFB - Barskdale AFB
					03/03/2001	Barskdale AFB - Eglin AFB
					04/03/2001	Eglin AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
70	STS-100	905	Endeavour (OV-105)	3	08/05/2001	Edwards AFB - Altus AFB
					08/05/2001	Altus AFB - Little Rock AFB
					09/05/2001	Little Rock AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
71	STS-111	911	Endeavour (OV-105)	3	28/06/2002	Edwards AFB - Altus AFB
					28/06/2002	Altus AFB - Whiteman AFB
					29/06/2002	Whiteman AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
72	STS-114	905	Discovery (OV-103)	3	19/08/2005	Edwards AFB - Altus AFB
					19/08/2005	Altus AFB - Barskdale AFB
					21/08/2005	Barskdale AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
73	STS-117	905	Atlantis (OV-104)	4	01/07/2007	Edwards AFB - Amarillo
					01/07/2007	Amarillo - Offut AFB
					02/07/2007	Offut AFB - Campbell Army Airfield
					03/07/2007	Campbell Army Airfield - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
74	STS-126	911	Endeavour (OV-105)	4	10/12/2008	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					10/12/2008	Biggs Army Airfield - NASJRB Fort Worth
					11/12/2008	NASJRB Fort Worth - Barskdale AFB
					12/12/2008	Barskdale AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
75	STS-125	911	Atlantis (OV-104)	4	01/06/2009	Edwards AFB - Biggs Army Airfield
					02/06/2009	Biggs Army Airfield - Kelly Field
					02/06/2009	Kelly Field - Columbus AFB
					02/06/2009	Columbus AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
76	STS-128	911	Discovery (OV-103)	4	20/09/2009	Edwards AFB - Amarillo
					20/09/2009	Amarillo - NASJRB Fort Worth
					20/09/2009	NASJRB Fort Worth - Barskdale AFB
					21/09/2009	Barskdale AFB - Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC

Other transportation methods

Overland

Space shuttle orbiters were constructed in Palmdale, California and transported overland to the Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), a distance of 36 miles. The shuttle carrier aircraft was not used for this initial leg of the journey but was used to transport the orbiters to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Additionally the orbiters were routinely towed from the Shuttle Landing Facility to the Orbiter Processing Facility after landing at the Kennedy Space Center either after missions or after removal from the SCA.^[1]

Enterprise January 31, 1977 (Palmdale to DFRC) for ferry flight to KSC
Columbia March 8, 1979 (Palmdale to DFRC) for ferry flight to KSC
Enterprise October 30, 1979 (DFRC to Palmdale) for ferry flight to KSC
Challenger July 1, 1982 (Palmdale to DFRC) for ferry flight to KSC
Discovery November 5, 1983 (Palmdale to DFRC) for ferry flight to KSC
Columbia January 30, 1984 (DFRC to Palmdale) for STS-17 modifications
Enterprise April 2, 1984 (Brookley Air Force Base, Mobile Alabama to U.S. Coast Guard Station, Mobile Alabama), for transfer to a barge for transport to New Orleans for the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition
Atlantis April 9, 1985 (Palmdale to DFRC) for ferry flight to KSC
Columbia July 11, 1985 (Palmdale to DFRC) for ferry flight to KSC, following modifications
Endeavour October 12–14, 2012 (LAX to California Science Center), for display

Barge

^[1]

Enterprise April 3–5, 1984 (U.S. Coast Guard Station, Mobile Alabama to New Orleans), for the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition
Enterprise November 3–5, 1984 (New Orleans to U.S. Coast Guard Station, Mobile Alabama), following the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition

Related Research Articles

The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) ten field centers. Since December 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of human spaceflight. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS). The management of the two entities work very closely together, share resources and operate facilities on each other's property.

Space Shuttle Partially reusable launch system and spaceplane

The Space Shuttle is a retired, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft where it was the only item funded for development. The first (STS-1) of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights (STS-5) beginning in 1982. Five complete Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles were built and flown on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Operational missions launched numerous satellites, interplanetary probes, and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), conducted science experiments in orbit, participated in the Shuttle-Mir program with Russia, and participated in construction and servicing of the International Space Station (ISS). The Space Shuttle fleet's total mission time was 1,322 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds.

Space Shuttle Enterprise was the first orbiter of the Space Shuttle system. Rolled out on September 17, 1976, it was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform atmospheric test flights after being launched from a modified Boeing 747. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield. As a result, it was not capable of spaceflight.

Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) was a Space Shuttle orbiter manufactured by Rockwell International and operated by NASA. Named after the first American ship to circumnavigate the upper North American Pacific coast and the female personification of the United States, Columbia was the first of five Space Shuttle orbiters to fly in space, debuting the Space Shuttle launch vehicle on its maiden flight in April 1981. As only the second full-scale orbiter to be manufactured after the Approach and Landing Test vehicle Enterprise, Columbia retained unique features indicative of its experimental design compared to later orbiters, such as test instrumentation and distinctive black chines. In addition to a heavier fuselage and the retention of an internal airlock throughout its lifetime, these made Columbia the heaviest of the five spacefaring orbiters; around 1,000 kilograms heavier than Challenger and 3,600 kilograms heavier than Endeavour. Columbia also carried ejection seats based on those from the SR-71 during its first six flights until 1983, and from 1986 onwards carried an external scientific instrument bay on its vertical stabilizer.

Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the orbiters from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built. Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, aggregating more spaceflights than any other spacecraft to date. The Space Shuttle launch vehicle has three main components: the Space Shuttle orbiter, a single-use central fuel tank, and two reusable solid rocket boosters. Nearly 25,000 heat-resistant tiles cover the orbiter to protect it from high temperatures on re-entry.

The Space Shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011. Its official name, Space Transportation System (STS), was taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development.

Armstrong Flight Research Center United States aerospace research facility

The NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) is an aeronautical research center operated by NASA. Its primary campus is located inside Edwards Air Force Base in California and is considered NASA's premier site for aeronautical research. AFRC operates some of the most advanced aircraft in the world and is known for many aviation firsts, including critical support for the first crewed airplane to exceed the speed of sound in level flight with the Bell X-1, highest speed ever recorded by a crewed, powered aircraft, the first pure digital fly-by-wire aircraft, and many others. AFRC also operates a second site in Palmdale, Ca. known as Building 703, once the former Rockwell International/North American Aviation production facility, next to Air Force Plant 42. There, AFRC houses and operates several of NASA's Science Mission Directorate aircraft including SOFIA, a DC-8 Flying Laboratory, a Gulfstream C-20A UAVSAR and ER-2 High Altitude Platform. David McBride is currently the center's director.

Robert Laurel Crippen is an American retired naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aerospace engineer, and retired astronaut. He traveled into space four times: as Pilot of STS-1 in April 1981, the first Space Shuttle mission; and as Commander of STS-7 in June 1983, STS-41-C in April 1984, and STS-41-G in October 1984. He was also a part of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), Skylab Medical Experiment Altitude Test (SMEAT), ASTP, and the Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) for the Space Shuttle. He did not go to space for any of those programs.

Jerry Lynn Ross is a retired United States Air Force officer, engineer and a former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of seven Space Shuttle missions, making him the joint record holder for most spaceflights. His papers, photographs and many personal items are in the Barron Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives at Purdue University. He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame during ceremonies in May 2014.

Steven Alan Hawley is a former NASA astronaut who flew on five U.S. Space Shuttle flights. He is professor of physics and astronomy and director of engineering physics at the University of Kansas.

Charles Gordon Fullerton was a United States Air Force colonel, a USAF and NASA astronaut, and a research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California. His assignments included a variety of flight research and support activities piloting NASA's B-52 launch aircraft, the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), and other multi-engine and high performance aircraft.

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) are two extensively modified Boeing 747 airliners that NASA used to transport Space Shuttle orbiters. One is a 747–100 model, while the other is a short range 747-100SR.

The Space Shuttle Pathfinder is a Space Shuttle test simulator made of steel and wood. Constructed by NASA in 1977 as an unnamed facilities test article, it was purchased in the early 1980s by the America-Japan Society, Inc. which had it refurbished, named it, and placed it on display in the Great Space Shuttle Exhibition in Tokyo. The mockup was later returned to the United States and placed on permanent display at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, in May 1988.

Carl Joseph Meade is a former NASA astronaut.

The Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) is an airport located on Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is a part of the Kennedy Space Center and was used by Space Shuttle for landing until July 2011. It was also used for takeoffs and landings for NASA training jets such as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and for civilian aircraft.

Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is a launch pad and support area. The site was originally developed for Titan III rockets and the Manned Orbiting Laboratory, but these were cancelled before construction of SLC-6 was complete. The complex was later rebuilt to serve as the west coast launch site for the Space Shuttle, but went unused due to budget, safety and political considerations. The pad was subsequently used for several Athena rocket launches before being modified to support the Delta IV launch vehicle family, which have used the pad since 2006.

Fitzhugh L. "Fitz" Fulton, Jr., , was a civilian research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, from August 1, 1966, until July 3, 1986, following 23 years of distinguished service as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

The Approach and Landing Tests were a series of taxi and flight trials of the prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise, conducted in 1977 to test the vehicle's flight characteristics both on its own and when mated to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, prior to the operational debut of the Shuttle system.

A Mate-Demate Device (MDD) is a specialized crane designed to lift a Space Shuttle orbiter onto and off the back of a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Four Mate-Demate Devices were built.

References

1 2 3 "STS Chronology". NASA.
↑ Mark, Hans (1987). The space station : a personal journey . Durham: Duke University Press. pp. 156. ISBN 978-0822307273.
↑ Mark, Hans (1987). The Space Station: A Personal Journey . Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. pp. 157–161. ISBN 978-0822307273.
↑ "Shuttle Enterprise begins international tour". www.upi.com. United Press International Inc. May 16, 1983. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
↑ NASA (2020-12-31). "SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HAER No. TX-116" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2020-12-31.

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[chron-1] 1 2 3 "STS Chronology". NASA.

[2] Mark, Hans (1987). The space station : a personal journey . Durham: Duke University Press. pp. 156. ISBN 978-0822307273.

[3] Mark, Hans (1987). The Space Station: A Personal Journey . Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. pp. 157–161. ISBN 978-0822307273.

[4] "Shuttle Enterprise begins international tour". www.upi.com. United Press International Inc. May 16, 1983. Retrieved November 16, 2018.

[tx116-5] NASA (2020-12-31). "SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HAER No. TX-116" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2020-12-31.

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v t e Space Shuttle program
Space Shuttle List of missions List of crews
Components	Orbiter Solid Rocket Booster External tank Main engine Orbital Maneuvering System Reaction control system Thermal protection system Booster separation motor
Orbiters	Enterprise Columbia Challenger Discovery Atlantis Endeavour
Add-ons	Spacelab (ESA) Canadarm (CSA) Extended Duration Orbiter Remote Controlled Orbiter Spacehab Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Sites	Launch Complex 39 A B Space Launch Complex 6 Landing sites Shuttle Landing Facility Abort landing sites
Operations and training	Missions (canceled) Crews Mission timeline Rollbacks Countdown Abort modes Rendezvous pitch maneuver Shuttle Mission Simulator Shuttle Training Aircraft
Testing	Inspiration(design) Pathfinder(simulator) MPTA (engine test article) Approach and Landing Tests
Disasters	Challenger disaster (report) Columbia disaster (report)
Support	Crawler-transporter Mate-Demate Device Mobile Launcher Platform NASA recovery ship Orbiter Processing Facility Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flights Shuttle Training Aircraft STS-3xx
Special	Deutschland-1 Getaway Special Teacher in Space Project Shuttle-Mir Hitchhiker
Space suits	Extravehicular Mobility Unit Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit Launch Entry Suit Advanced Crew Escape Suit
Experiments	Freestar experiments Inflatable Antenna Experiment Spartan Packet Radio Experiment Shuttle pallet satellite Wake Shield Facility
Derivatives	Saturn-Shuttle Magnum Shuttle-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle Jupiter Shuttle-C Ares I IV V Liberty Space Launch System OmegA
Replicas	Independence
Related	Space Shuttle design process studied designs Inertial Upper Stage Payload Assist Module International Space Station Criticism Retirement Conroy Virtus Hail Columbia (1982 documentary) The Dream Is Alive (1985 documentary) Challenger (1990 film) Destiny in Space (1994 documentary) Columbia: The Tragic Loss (2004 documentary) Hubble (2010 documentary) The Challenger Disaster (2013 film) Challenger: The Final Flight (2020 documentary miniseries) Space Shuttle America Rendezvous: A Space Shuttle Simulation Space Shuttle Project Shuttle Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space Space Shuttle Mission 2007 Orbiter Space Flight Simulator When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions