"6_2_3_21_2.TXT" (19142 bytes) was created on 12-30-88 SPACE SHUTTLE CHRONOLOGY 1972-1979 1972 Aug. 9 Rockwell receives authority to proceed, space shuttle orbiter 1974 June 4 Start structural assembly crew module, Enterprise (OV-101) July 17 Start long-lead fabrication (MPTA-098) Aug. 26 Start structural assembly aft fuselage, Enterprise (OV-101) 1975 Jan. 6 Start long-lead fabrication aft fuselage (STA-099) March 27 Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) March 27 Start long-lead fabrication aft fuselage, Columbia (OV-102) May 23 Wings on dock, Palmdale-less elevons, seals and main gear doors-Enterprise (OV-101) May 27 Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale (main fin box only), Enterprise (OV-101) June 24 Start structural assembly (MPTA-098) Aug. 25 Start final assembly and closeout system installation, Enterprise (OV-101) Sept. 5 Aft fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) Oct. 17 Space shuttle main engine first main stage test at NSTL Oct. 31 Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) Nov. 17 Start long-lead fabrication of crew module, Columbia (OV-102) Dec. 1 Upper forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) Dec. 20 First SSME 60-second duration test, NSTL Dec. 31 1/4-scale model ground vibration test facility construction complete, Downey, Building 288 1976 Jan. 16 Crew module on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) Jan. 23 MPTA-098 truss on dock, Downey Feb. 16 Start fabrication forward fuselage (STA-099) March 3 Payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) March 12 Complete final assembly and closeout system installation, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) March 15 Start functional checkout, Enterprise (OV-101) March 17 Complete premate MPTA test structure, Downey, and deliver to Palmdale April 2 Crew escape system test sled on dock, Downey April 3 Complete assembly and deliver MPTA structure on dock, Lockheed test site, Palmdale April 22 Body flap on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) May 3 Complete MPTA-098 proof load test setup, Lockheed test site, Palmdale June 14 Start aft fuselage assembly (STA-099) June 24 Complete MPTA-098 proof load test, Lockheed test site and on dock, Palmdale June 25 Complete functional checkout, Enterprise (OV-101) June 28 Start assembly of crew module, Columbia (OV-102) June 28 Start horizontal ground vibration tests and proof load tests, Enterprise (OV-101) June 29 MPTA-098 truss assembly, Palmdale, Building 294 to Building 295 June 30 SSME dummy set on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) July 8 MPTA-098 on dock, Downey, without truss assembly July 12 Start installation secondary structure (MPTA-098) Aug. 2 Start final assembly forward fuselage (STA-099) Aug. 2 Start carrier aircraft modification Aug. 20 Complete horizontal ground vibration tests and proof load tests, Enterprise (OV-101) Aug. 23 Start Delta F modification, Enterprise (OV-101) Aug. 27 Reaction control system/orbital maneuvering system pods (simulated), approach and landing tests, on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) Aug. Start overland roadway construction from Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base Sept. 10 Complete Delta F modifications, Enterprise (OV-101) Sept. 13 Start preparations for first rollout, Enterprise (OV-101) Sept. 13 Start assembly aft fuselage, Columbia (OV-102) Sept. 17 Rollout Enterprise (OV-101) Sept. 17 Complete on-stand construction, NSTL Sept. 20 Start Delta F retest, Enterprise (OV-101) Oct. 1 Start final assembly, vertical stabilizer (STA-099) Oct. 1 Start final assembly, wing (STA-099) Oct. 15 Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) Oct. 26 Escape system test assembly sled ship from Downey to Holloman, N.M. Oct. 29 Deliver ejection seats, Enterprise (OV-101) Oct. 29 Complete Delta F retest, Enterprise (OV-101) Oct. 31 Solid rocket booster 1/4-scale model (burnout configuration) on dock, Downey Nov. 4 Complete 747 shuttle carrier aircraft modification, rollout, Boeing Nov. 18 Start escape system sled test, Holloman, N.M. Nov. 26 Complete integrated checkout, Enterprise (OV-101) Nov. 28 Complete orbiter transporter strongback Dec. 7 Tail cone fairing on dock, Palmdale Dec. 10 Complete overland roadway construction, Palmdale to Edwards Air Force Base Dec. 13 Start assembly upper forward fuselage, Columbia (OV-102) Dec. 17 External tank 1/4-scale model on dock, Downey 1977 Jan. 3 Start assembly vertical stabilizer, Columbia (OV-102) Jan. 14 Complete postcheckout, Enterprise (OV-101) Jan. 14 Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft delivered to DFRF Jan. 25 Complete aft fuselage assembly on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) Jan. 28 Simulated crew module on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) Jan. 31 SRB 1/4-scale model (lift-off configuration) on dock, Downey Jan. 31 Enterprise (OV-101) transported overland from Palmdale to DFRF (36 miles) Jan. 31 Mass simulated SSMEs on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101) Feb. 7 Enterprise (OV-101)/shuttle carrier aircraft mate start Feb. 10 Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Feb. 15 Complete Enterprise (OV-101)/shuttle carrier aircraft mated ground vibration test and taxi tests Feb. 18 Conduct first inert captive flight, DFRF (2 hours, 5 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) Feb. 22 Conduct second inert captive flight, DFRF (3 hours, 13 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) Feb. 25 Conduct third inert captive flight, DFRF (2 hours, 28 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) Feb. 28 Conduct fourth inert captive flight, DFRF (2 hours, 11 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) March 2 Conduct fifth inert captive flight, DFRF (1 hour, 39 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) March 16 Wings on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) March 21 Orbiter 1/4-scale model on dock, Downey April 1 Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) April 6 Upper forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) April 6 Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) May 20 Nose landing gear doors on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) May 26 Aft payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) May 27 Complete systems installation/final acceptance, MPTA-098, transport from Downey to Seal Beach May 31 SRB 1/4-scale model, burnout and maximum q configuration, on dock, Downey May 31 SRB 1/4-scale model, lift-off configuration, on dock, Downey May 31 Body flap on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) June 3 Ship MPTA-098 from Seal Beach, Calif., to NSTL June 7 Complete integrated checkout and hot-fire ground test, DFRF, Enterprise (OV-101) June 18 Conduct first manned captive active flight, Enterprise (OV-101)/shuttle carrier aircraft, DFRF (55 minutes, 46 seconds) June 23 Deliver first SSME to NSTL (MPTA-098) June 24 Deliver MPTA-098 to NSTL June 28 Conduct second manned captive active flight, Enterprise (OV-101)/shuttle carrier aircraft, DFRF (1 hour, 2 minutes) July 5 Start long-lead fabrication aft fuselage, Discovery (OV-103) July 8 Deliver second main engine to NSTL (MPTA-098) July 14 Deliver third main engine to NSTL (MPTA-098) July 18 Conduct 2-minute firing of SRB at Brigham City, Utah, Thiokol (2.4 million pounds of thrust) July 22 Deliver forward payload bay doors, on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) July 26 Conduct third manned captive active flight, Enterprise (OV-101)/shuttle carrier aircraft, DFRF (59 minutes, 50 seconds) Aug. 12 Conduct first free flight, ALT, tail cone on, DFRF (5 minutes, 21 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 17 Aug. 26 Deliver wings on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Sept. 7 Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Sept. 10 Deliver external tank MPTA-098 (Martin Marietta) to NSTL Sept. 13 Conduct second free flight, ALT, tail cone on, DFRF (5 minutes, 28 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 17 Sept. 23 Conduct third free flight, ALT, tail cone on, DFRF (5 minutes, 34 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 15 Sept. 30 Complete mate vertical stabilizer, Palmdale (STA-099) Oct. 12 Conduct fourth free flight, ALT, first tail cone off, DFRF (2 minutes, 34 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 17 Oct. 26 Conduct fifth free flight, ALT, final tail cone off, DFRF (2 minutes, 1 second), Enterprise (OV-101), concrete Runway 04 Oct. 28 Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Nov. 4 Start forward reaction control system development tests, White Sands Test Facility, N.M. Nov. 4 Deliver aft fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Nov. 7 Forward RCS on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) Nov. 7 Start final assembly and closeout system installation, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Nov. 15 First ferry flight test, DFRF (3 hours, 21 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) Nov. 16 Second ferry flight test, DFRF (4 hours, 17 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) Nov. 17 Third ferry flight test, DFRF (4 hours, 13 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) Nov. 18 Fourth ferry flight test, DFRF (3 hours, 37 minutes), Enterprise (OV-101) Dec. 9 Complete approach and landing flight tests, including ferry flights, Enterprise (OV-101) Dec. 12 Start removal for mated vertical ground vibration test modification at DFRF, Enterprise (OV-101) Dec. 13 Complete propellant load testing, NSTL (MPTA-098) Dec. 31 Deliver SSME envelope/electrical simulators on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) 1978 Jan. 10 Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Jan. 18 Second SRB firing, Thiokol Feb. 10 Complete final assembly, STA-099, Palmdale Feb. 14 STA-099 on dock, Lockheed facility, Palmdale Feb. 17 Crew module on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Feb. 24 Body flap on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) March 3 Complete modification for mated vertical ground vibration test, DFRF, Enterprise (OV-101) March 6 Upper forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) March 10 Ferry Enterprise (OV-101) atop shuttle carrier aircraft from DFRF to Ellington Air Force Base, Texas (approximately 3 hours, 38 minutes) March 13 Ferry Enterprise (OV-101) atop shuttle carrier aircraft from Ellington AFB to Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. (approximately 2 hours) March 19 Aft payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) March 31 External tank for mated vertical ground vibration tests arrives at MSFC from Martin Marietta, Michoud, La. March 31 Operational readiness date, solid rocket booster refurbishment and subassembly, Kennedy Space Center, Fla. April 14 Complete ground vibration test modification at MSFC; deliver Enterprise (OV-101) for mated vertical ground vibration test April 21 First static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL (2.5 seconds; stub nozzles) April 23 Complete final assembly and closeout system installation, ready for power-on, Columbia (OV-102) April 24 Start precombined systems test, Columbia (OV-102) April 28 Forward payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) May 19 Second static firing MPTA-098, NSTL (15 seconds, 70% thrust; stub nozzles) May 19 Start forward RCS thermal tests, WSTF May 26 Start development test aft RCS, WSTF May 26 Complete forward RCS structure, Columbia (OV-102) May 26 Upper forward fuselage mate, Columbia (OV-102) May 30 Start Enterprise (OV-101)/ ET mated vertical ground vibration test, MSFC May 31 Loaded SRBs (2) arrive at MSFC for mated vertical ground vibration test June 15 Third static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL (50 seconds, 90% thrust, last 5 seconds 70% thrust; stub nozzles) July 3 Deliver left-hand OMS/RCS pod to WSTF July 7 Fourth static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL (No. 2 engine 70% thrust for 90 seconds, simulated one engine out at 90 seconds, then No. 1 and No. 3 to 90% thrust-then to 70% thrust, then to 90% for 100 seconds; stub nozzles) July 7 Complete mate forward and aft payload bay doors, Columbia (OV-102) July 13 Complete forward RCS development tests, WSTF July 13 Reconfigure from boost to launch, mated vertical ground vibration test, MSFC, Enterprise (OV-101) July 15 Deliver SRBs (2) empty to MSFC for mated vertical ground vibration test July 21 First firing development test, OMS, WSTF July 31 Operational readiness date, Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1, shuttle landing facility, and Hypergolic Maintenance Facility, KSC Aug. 11 Complete forward RCS, Columbia (OV-102) Aug. 11 Complete test preparation, STA-099, Lockheed facility, Palmdale Aug. 11 Complete forward RCS thermal test, WSTF Aug. 14 Start coefficient tests, STA-099, Lockheed facility, Palmdale Aug. 31 Operational readiness date, Vertical Assembly Building High Bays 3 and 4, KSC Sept. 8 Start OMS left-hand development test, WSTF Sept. 20 Start launch configuration test lift-off configuration, Enterprise (OV-101)/ ET/SRBs mated vertical ground vibration test at MSFC Sept. 20 Start acoustic test, forward RCS, WSTF Sept. 25 Start precombined system test, Columbia (OV-102) Sept. 29 Complete coefficient tests, STA-099, Lockheed facility, Palmdale Sept. 30 Operational readiness date, mobile launcher platform, KSC Oct. 19 Third SRB firing, Thiokol Nov. 11 Complete forward RCS acoustic test, WSTF Nov. 15 Complete OMS development test Nov. 15 Complete aft RCS development test, WSTF Nov. 30 Operational readiness date, Pad A, KSC Dec. 9 Start OMS Phase I qualification tests, WSTF Dec. 15 Start aft RCS Phase I qualification tests, WSTF Dec. 15 Complete precombined system test, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) 1979 Jan. 2 Start long-lead fabrication crew module, Challenger (OV-099) Jan. 30 Start orbiter/ET/SRB burnout mated vertical ground vibration test, MSFC Jan. 31 Deliver shuttle carrier aircraft to DFRF for ferry operations Jan. 31 Start left-hand OMS Phase I qualification test, WSTF Jan. 31 Mission Control Center-Houston/Goldstone ready for operational flight test early operations Feb. 3 Complete combined systems test, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Feb. 16 Airlock on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) Feb. 17 Fourth SRB firing, Thiokol Feb. 26 Complete mated vertical ground vibration test program at MSFC, Enterprise (OV-101) Feb. 28 Operational readiness date, shuttle landing site, DFRF (Edwards AFB) Runway 23, for first manned orbital flight March 5 Complete postcheckout, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) March 8 Complete closeout inspection, final acceptance, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102) March 8 Columbia (OV-102) transported overland from Palmdale to DFRF (38 miles) March 9 Shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) test flight at NASA DFRF March 17 Space shuttle main engine 2005, first flight engine delivered to NSTL for acceptance test firings March 20 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) from DFRF to Biggs Army Air Base, El Paso, Texas (3 hours, 20 minutes) March 22 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) from Biggs Army Air Base to Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas (1 hour, 39 minutes) March 23 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) from Kelly AFB to Eglin AFB, Fla. (2 hours, 12 minutes) March 24 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) from Eglin AFB to KSC (1 hour, 33 minutes) March 30 Space shuttle main engine 2007, flight engine delivered to NSTL for acceptance test firing April 6 Complete Phase I qualification tests, aft RCS, WSTF April 10 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101) from MSFC to KSC (1 hour, 52 minutes) April 16 Space shuttle main engine 2006, flight engine delivered to NSTL, for acceptance test firing April 18 Complete left-hand OMS/RCS Phase I qualification, WSTF May 1 Enterprise (OV-101)/ ET/SRBs mated on mobile launcher platform, transported to Launch Complex 39-A from Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC May 4 Start forward RCS Phase I qualification tests, WSTF May 4 Fifth static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL, flight nozzles 1.5 seconds May 10 Deliver right-hand OMS/RCS from McDonnell Douglas, St. Louis, to KSC, Columbia (OV-102) May 15 Deliver left-hand OMS/RCS from McDonnell Douglas to KSC, Columbia (OV-102) May 30 Deliver ET used in mated vertical ground vibration test from MSFC to Martin Marietta for refurbishment June 12 Fifth static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL, flight nozzles (54 seconds, early cutoff, accelerometer filters) June 15 First SRB qualification firing, Thiokol, Utah, 122 seconds; nozzle extension severed at end of run as in actual mission; full cycle gimbal June 21 Start assembly crew module, Challenger (OV-099) July 2 Sixth static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL, flight nozzles (19 seconds, early cutoff-main fuel valve rupture) July 23 Enterprise (OV-101), ET, SRBs transported on mobile launcher platform from Launch Complex 39-A to Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC Aug. 1 Start long-lead fabrication crew module, Discovery (OV-103) Aug. 6 Complete limit test (STA-099), Lockheed facility, Palmdale Aug. 10 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), KSC to Atlanta (1 hour, 55 minutes) Aug. 11 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Atlanta to St. Louis (1 hour, 50 minutes) Aug. 12 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), St. Louis to Tulsa (1 hour, 35 minutes) Aug. 13 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Tulsa to Denver (2 hours) Aug. 14 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Denver to Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah (1 hour, 30 minutes) Aug. 15 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Ogden to Vandenberg AFB (2 hours, 20 minutes) Aug. 16 Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Vandenberg AFB to DFRF (1 hour, 10 minutes) Aug. 23 Enterprise (OV-101)/ shuttle carrier demate, DFRF Aug. 27 Start long-lead fabrication crew module, Discovery (OV-103) Aug. 31 Complete OMS Phase II qualification tests, WSTF Aug. Second SRB qualification firing, Thiokol Sept. 5 Complete forward RCS Phase I qualification tests, WSTF Sept. 12 Start forward RCS Phase II qualification tests, WSTF Sept. 21 Start aft RCS Phase II qualification tests, WSTF Oct. 5 Complete setup and thermal tests (STA-099), Lockheed facility, Palmdale Oct. 24 Sixth static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL, flight nozzle (scrubbed, hydrogen detector oversensitive) Oct. 30 Move Enterprise (OV-101) from DFRF overland to Rockwell Palmdale facility (38 miles) Nov. 2 Start OMS left-hand pod Phase II qualification, WSTF Nov. 3 Complete Columbia (OV-102) auxiliary power unit hot fire tests, Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC Nov. 4 MPTA-098 static firing, NSTL (10 seconds, flight nozzles, SSME liquid oxygen turbine, seal cavity pressure, high-cutoff steerhorn failure) Nov. 7 Deliver STA-099 from Lockheed facility, Palmdale to Rockwell Palmdale for rework as second operational orbiter (redesignated Challenger {OV-099}) Nov. 12 Complete qualification test OMS engine at WSTF Dec. 7 Demate payload bay door, Palmdale, Challenger (OV-099) Dec. 14 Complete demate body flap, Palmdale, Challenger (OV-099) Dec. 16 Orbiter integrated test start, Columbia (OV-102), KSC Dec. 17 Sixth static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL, 554 seconds (340 seconds at 100% rated power level, then 90% at 385 seconds, 80% at 450 seconds, 70% at 505 seconds; 1 engine shut down-other 2 continued at 70% until 554 seconds; pogo and gimbaling tests accomplished; stub nozzles) Dec. 21 Complete demate elevons, Palmdale, Challenger (OV-099)