Space Shuttle Enterprise

The Space Shuttle Enterprise (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-101) was the first Space Shuttle built for NASA. Enterprise was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield and was therefore not capable of space operations; its purpose was to perform test flights in the atmosphere.

Originally, Enterprise had been intended to be refitted for orbital flight, which would have made her the second space shuttle to fly after Columbia. However, during the construction of Columbia, details of the final design changed, particularly with regard to the weight of the fuselage and wings. Refitting Enterprise for flight would have involved dismantling the orbiter and returning the sections to subcontractors across the country, an expensive proposition; as such, it was deemed cheaper to build Challenger around a body frame ("STA-099") that had been created as a test article. Similarly, Enterprise was considered for refit to replace Challenger after the latter was destroyed, but Endeavour was built from structural spares instead. 

Enterprise proved useful during the investigation of the Columbia accident.  Investigators removed panels along the front leading edge to test various theories about the problems with the heat shield that may have lead to the accident.

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