![]() ![]() The aft-fuselage was delivered on December 15, 1989, followed by the crew module on February 23, 1990. OV-105’s payload bay doors arrived at Palmdale throughout October 1989. Upper-fuselage assembly began at Downey on August 1 – the same day that final assembly of OV-105 began. The mid- and lower-fuselages were mated together in August 1988. Mating of the wings to the mid-fuselage was completed on May 17, 1988, and the lower fuselage was transported to Palmdale on May 25. The vehicle’s left hand OMS (Orbital Maneuver System) pod arrived on-dock on January 29 followed by the right hand OMS pod on February 16. On January 11, 1988, engineers began work on the fabrication and assembly of OV-105’s Forward Reaction Control System thruster pod. On December 22, OV-105’s distinctive and tell-tale Delta wings arrived on-dock at her Palmdale, California construction facility from the Grumman group in New York state. Mid-fuselage assembly began on Octofollowed on November 30 by the start of assembly of the vertical stabilizer. Two months later, on September 7, engineers began assembling the body-flap of OV-105 – with assembly beginning on her aft-fuselage on Sept. Specifically, the contract to build NASA’s newest, and last, Space Shuttle orbiter was issued to Rockwell International on July 31, 1987. To this end, the start of structural assembly of OV-105’s Crew Module began on Februover five years before authorization to build OV-105 was issued. Taking advantage of structural spares created during the construction campaigns of OV-103/Discovery and OV-104/Atlantis, construction of NASA’s newest orbiter, known officially as OV-105 (Orbiter Vehicle 105), gained a significant time advantage by making use of these structural spares. This idea was quickly turned down, however, due to cost and time requirements.Įssentially, it was deemed cheaper and faster to simply build a new orbiter than to refit the Enterprise. ![]() However, before permission to construct a new orbiter was issued, serious consideration was given to refitting the test orbiter Enterprise (OV-101) and having her join the Shuttle fleet as an operational, space-worthy vehicle. OV-105 Endeavour: The Baby with Big Expectations and a Bold History:Ī little over one year after the loss of the sister she never knew, the United States Congress passed legislation officially authorizing the construction of new Space Shuttle orbiter to fill the manifest needs left in the wake of the 51L disaster. And while the STS-51L/Challenger mission ended in disaster, from its devastating aftermath came the hope of a new beginning in the form a new and improved Space Shuttle orbiter – an orbiter that has performed some of the most vital and historical missions for humanity over the course of her 19-year, 25-mission career. The center’s foundation has raised nearly $350 million of the $400 million goal for the project.The Space Shuttle Program was well underway by January 1986 – with preparations marching toward the launch of the 25th Space Shuttle mission, a mission to place a school teacher in Low Earth Orbit. Construction of the Air and Space Center will be completed around the full shuttle stack. The shuttle will be moved across Exposition Park and lifted by a crane to be intricately mated to the external tank. 31 will be the last chance to see Endeavour as it has been displayed - horizontally in the landing position - for years since arrival at the California Science Center. When NASA’s shuttles were retired, Endeavour was flown to California atop NASA’s special Boeing 747 shuttle carrier in 2012, drawing crowds as it flew over locations in the state associated with the space program.Īfter landing at Los Angeles International Airport, the shuttle was placed on a special trailer and then created a sensation as it was inched through tight city streets to the California Science Center over several days.Ī groundbreaking ceremony for the Air and Space Center was held last year on the 11th anniversary of Endeavour’s final return from space.ĭec. The 20-story-tall display will stand atop an 1,800-ton (1,633-metric ton) concrete slab supported by six so-called base isolators to protect Endeavour from earthquakes.Įndeavour was built as a replacement for the destroyed Space Shuttle Challenger and flew 25 missions between 19. Activate your Online Access Now Article content If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is included in your subscription. Manage Print Subscription / Tax Receipt. ![]()
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