Did the space shuttle land on a plane?

Following eight captive-carry flights, which piggybacked off a modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), Enterprise was finally ready for its first free-flight test. Haise and Fullerton glided Enterprise down to the lakebed runway and safely landed. The mission was a success!

What aircraft is used to transport the space shuttles?

Boeing 747 jetliners
NASA flew two modified Boeing 747 jetliners, originally manufactured for commercial use, as Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. One is a 747-123 model, while the other was designated a 747-100SR-46 model. The two aircraft were identical in performance as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA).

How did they move the Space Shuttle?

To load the shuttle onto the jet, NASA uses a giant gantry-like machine called the Mate-Demate device. This contraption uses two 100-foot steel towers with a massive lift beam in between them to hoist the orbiter off the ground.

Was the space shuttle launched from a 747?

Two Boeing 747s used to piggyback NASA’s space shuttles The space shuttle’s secondary landing site was at Edwards Air Force Base in California. All up, the two 747s flew 87 post landing ferry flights for NASA, giving the travel-weary space shuttle a lift.

Can a 747 carry the Space Shuttle?

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) are two extensively modified Boeing 747 airliners that NASA used to transport Space Shuttle orbiters. One is a 747–100 model, while the other is a short range 747-100SR.

Did NASA use Boeing 747s to transport space shuttles?

Two of those 747s found themselves piggybacking NASA’s space shuttles around North America. While it wasn’t unknown for the space shuttles to be transported short distances by road, these two 747s did much of the long-distance heavy lifting. NASA used two Boeing 747s to ferry space shuttles.

Where does NASA operate its short-fuselage 747SP?

This involved transporting the new Endeavour Space Shuttle to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The flight originated in Palmdale, California, where the shuttle had been manufactured. NASA also operates a short-fuselage 747SP. This carries its Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, otherwise known as ‘SOFIA.’

What happened to Boeing 747s that formerly flown passengers?

Over the years, several Boeing 747 aircraft that formerly flew passengers have found a second life at NASA. Two of those 747s found themselves piggybacking NASA’s space shuttles around North America. While it wasn’t unknown for the space shuttles to be transported short distances by road, these two 747s did much of the long-distance heavy lifting.

What type of aircraft did NASA use to transport the Space Shuttle?

Extensively modified Boeing 747 airliners that NASA used to transport Space Shuttle orbiters. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) are two extensively modified Boeing 747 airliners that NASA used to transport Space Shuttle orbiters.