Approach and Landing Tests

The Space Shuttle program originated in the late 1960s as an attempt to reduce the cost of spaceflight by introducing a reusable spacecraft.

The program lasted from February until October 1977, with a pair of two-man crews assigned to the orbiter: Haise had previously flown as the Lunar Module pilot of Apollo 13, and was named as the commander of the original STS-2 mission.

This consisted of a captain and co-pilot, plus a pair of flight engineers: The ALT program was divided into three distinct phases.

The captive-active flights were intended to determine the optimum profile required for Enterprise to separate from the SCA during the orbiter's free-flights.

These saw Enterprise mated to the SCA and carried to a launch altitude, before being released to glide to a landing on the runways at Edwards AFB.

[5][6][7] For the approach and landing tests, a nose strut longer than those employed in later ferry flights increased the shuttle's angle of attack relative to the 747.

Prior to the orbiter being released, the 747 engines were set to full power and the paired aircraft entered a shallow dive.

[9] There were a total of five free-flights between August and October; the first three saw Enterprise remain fitted with its aerodynamic tail cone, intended to reduce drag when mounted on the SCA during flight.

The final two had the tail cone removed, with the orbiter in its full operational configuration, with dummy main engines and OMS pods.