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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)