Space Shuttle Enterprise - ALT-1 (Full Free Flight)

Space Shuttle Enterprise - ALT- 1 (Complete Free Flight)
August 12th 1977 - Onboard are astronauts Fred Haise and Gordon Fullerton.
Here is the first free flight of Space Shuttle Enterprise with the NASA commentary added. I have been searching for the audio of this test flight for 30 odd years and, at last, here it is. It has been very satisfying to finally put this all together. Another "space first" for me. For those of you who have always wanted to see it like this (ie with no TV commentators), I hope you enjoy the 10 minutes or so that will whisk you back to a simpler, but perhaps , what seemed a more futuristic age...
Video starts 2 minutes before pushover and lasts through wheels stop.
The "audio find" was on a cassette tape and is, I believe, one of the tapes JSC media department used to provide free on receipt of a blank cassette tape back in the 70s and 80s. Some of the audio seems "clipped" - but to those that remember, that was the way these types of tapes were recorded - the term used was "voxed" - which we all believed at the time meant some of the audio sounds like on this audio...slightly clipped, as if it was a voice activated recording.
Video/photos/patches and audio are courtesy NASA.

[@HighlandMike325]

I just wish the Apollo 13 movie had mentioned that Fred Haise did this. "He never flew in space again" did him a bit of a disservice, as this is just as heroic.

[@jackmehofff8815]

Seriously that’s a lot of disrespect to haise

[@fork9001]

But he didn’t actually, this flight never reached space. And I mean no disrespect.

[@douggraham5082]

I completely agree. His contributions to the shuttle program were enormous.

[@tomandsamuel]

Agree. The ending was a bit rushed of Apollo 13 and it should have highlighted this project. A cut scene to this would have been great as I bet most people remember this image.

[@mattg3971]

They did mention it at the end of the movie

[@Flying_fisher]

I'm absolutely blown away that the chase planes were able to hold position so well with how that thing drops like a rock, very impressive airmanship.

[@crystalwings4520]

Not rock, but a *brick*

[@0xf7c8]

A fighter jet can dive vertically down. Don't know why this would suppose a challenge.

[@guitarfan01]

@@0xf7c8 Because of the drag of the shuttle and the aerodynamics of the T-38 chase planes - descending in a slim, aerodynamic fighter jet would tend to accelerate the jet, while the shuttle is such a brick that it could lose speed while descending - depending on the attitude, of course. Flying formation with the proverbial flying brickyard without getting into a stall situation is a darn good job of piloting.

[@tomwilson2112]

​@@guitarfan01 Keeping the airspeed down in a jet isn't hard. Note that the plane flying in front of the shuttle is running with its gear down to create more drag. They may also have spoilers and speedbrakes... but even without all that, if you pull the stick back and cut the throttle, a jet will descend. It's a matter of finding the angle of attack that provides enough braking without losing lift entirely.

[@hardyr]

These T-38s were specially modified with larger speedbrakes and more durable landing gear to create additional drag so they could match the orbiter's glideslope without speeding past it. They're being flown at idle power and with the flaps down. These modified T-38s were primarily used to train astronauts for the approach prior to transitioning to the larger Shuttle Training Aircraft.

[@rockzhard2009]

i remember watching this live thinking theres no way this can go bad simply because this ship is named ENTERPRISE'. and yes, i'm still a star trek nerd.

[@cubdukat]

If only the actual Enterprises fared better than this one. Two were destroyed and one was seriously damaged.

[@cubdukat]

Sorry, my count was off. Make that three Enterprises destroyed and one seriously damaged.

[@gerardoquinones6752]

I remember watching this from the VIP section in Mission Control. Pure dumb luck. Turned left when I should have turned right, to watch it from the basement with the rest of the contractors.

[@dotamlac]

Lol

[@jhmcd2]

That's because Scotty was down in engineering making sure it went right.

[@lunarmodule5]

Am glad people are liking this one...it's been a long time coming.

[@michaelstevantoni4553]

+lunarmodule5 Where is this footage from. I'm trying to get the rights to it for a short film.

[@goldenpacificmedia]

My guess is that it's got to be footage from NASA JSC. The camera is in one of the chase planes. The footage is likely public domain.

[@JackieDannenberg]

Love it ! I need to look it up and see if I can find out who was flying in the chase planes. I swear I heard John Young. No doubt he’d be there !

[@gabrielbennett5162]

My grandfather, Victor Horton, was one of the two flight engineers on the 747. During this flight, Fitz Fulton (747 Command Pilot) didn't completely trust the computer numbers he'd been given and had Grandpa work the trajectory calculations for the pushover maneuver by hand, to double-check them. From their many flights together aboard the YF-12 Blackbird and other aircraft, he trusted Grandpa's math more than any computer. My mom told me that she was actually very worried the Shuttle would hit the 747's vertical tail, until Grandpa took her into his office and showed her an early wireframe computer simulation of the pushover and separation maneuver. Then she felt a little bit better. Just the same, NASA actually had the families of both the 747 and Shuttle crews watching the flight in their own separate VIP viewing area, where they could be quickly sequestered and kept from being mobbed by the press, should the unthinkable happen. Both of my parents were there (Mom and Dad had been dating several years and I think they were engaged by this point). Also, as an added safety feature, Grandpa designed a pyrotechnically-activated emergency escape hatch system, window release and escape tunnel for the 747, that would allow them to bail-out through the underside of the aircraft if damage was sustained to the main vertical tail and they were unable to land safely (the rectangular outboard auxiliary vertical stabilizers on the trailing edges of the horizontal tail, in addition to enhancing directional stability, were also intended, in part, to keep the 905 flying on a steady course, long enough for a bail-out). I've seen photos of the pyrotechnic tests for it in some of his stuff. Thankfully, it never had to be used and according to NASA fact sheets, was removed following the successful completion of the Approach & Landing Tests.

[@lunarmodule5]

Amazing ! Thank you for sharing and hats off to your Grandfather

[@nolarobert]

This takes me back to my youth when I watched this event being covered by the networks. I was almost 10 years old and very excited about the promise of manned space exploration to come from the Space Shuttle program. Unfortunately the first launch of Columbia was delayed until April of 1981 and the golden era only lasted until the end of January, 1986. But those were great days while they lasted.

[@lunarmodule5]

Robert Karma I have uploaded the network broadcast elsewhere on the channel - regards LM5

[@EchoesDistant]

Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. It's five test missions: to test the flight characteristics, and landing capabilities of the Space Shuttle. To boldly do what no spaceship has done before!

[@DawgPro]

That's what I'm talking about... No TV grandstanding, just the beef. Great work LM5 Thank You Sharing.

[@lunarmodule5]

***** thanks for your comments dawg - most of us like the tv coverage but really love the raw footage/audio - This one took me ages to find but it was worth the wait - regards LM5

[@designsbyphilip510]

I saw this in flight on the 747 over Tulsa leaving McDonald Douglas. Chased it in my bicycle for a short time yelling "Its the Enterprise!" over and over. Im sure my neighbors thought I was nuts.

[@joestimemachine6454]

I'm more anxious watching this than I bet Fred Haise was piloting that beautiful machine. What a legend.

[@RobloxianX]

technically the ever first shuttle fight! Very underrated actually considering that this helped alot of future shuttle pilots to land the shuttle with ease!

[@EchoesDistant]

Not technically. It IS the first shuttle FLIGHT.

[@SeligTiles]

@@EchoesDistant would you consider enterprise a real shuttle? It didn’t have ssme’s, oms, rcs. No payload bay. The cockpit was only fitted with instrumentation for ALT.

[@EchoesDistant]

I absolutely do. But to be clear, I distinguish the first shuttle launch (STS-1) to be different from the first flight (ALT-1). Enterprise may have only been a test model, but it didn't need all the other things to do what it's role was. But it's absolutely part of the shuttle family.

[@devd_rx]

3:50 space shuttle be like: a'ight imma head out

[@MidnightBanshi]

This is AMAZING footage! I so remember this test flight and how everyone was so super stoked to see that it got the name Enterprise. A very fitting name for the birth of this age!

[@SeansModelBuilds]

Have you seen the shuttle in person?

[@gigaboat]

In 1998 this shuttle Enterprise was on display at KSC. I was an Airline employee from Australia and I sat in Fred Haise seat.

[@user-cw7hm9on7f]

很怀念那个航天飞机时代！是航天史上的奇迹！ I miss that space shuttle era! It is a miracle in the history of spaceflight!

[@SpeedBird034]

Thanks for sharing this historical footage with us!

[@lunarmodule5]

***** u r welcome speedbird

[@SpeedBird034]

***** I discovered your channel few days ago and I'm watching the videos. Keep up the great work!

[@bobbreit5244]

Never gets old.👍 No fluff. Just the stuff.

[@gwynmorris5671]

Awsome !! , just visted this baby on the USS Intrepid last week pier 86 New York , what a amazing experience this Giant of air and space 🇺🇲 !!

[@PuzzleKitten.0000]

Thanks for the memories! Really appreciate your finding this and putting it together!!!

[@lunarmodule5]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BlueAerospace]

The landing is absolutely majestic

[@BlueAerospace]

This video is over 6 years old and you still heart comments

[@Maximilian7992]

It’s a shame Enterprise never went into space

[@jusnuts1443]

I was almost 10 years old when I watched this on TV. Still exciting to a guy that's nearly 52!

[@engineergaming4295]

Jus' Nuts awesome

[@johnlambert1188]

Great work thanks for putting this together.

[@lunarmodule5]

John Lambert Thanks John - thanks for the comment - LM5

[@ericksuarezb.5994]

i loved it, what an amazing footage and audio !!!

[@lunarmodule5]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@techtinkerin]

These were the days😊❤️

[@Senor0Droolcup]

I be lovin' me some Fred Haise...

[@lunarmodule5]

Brian Liddicoat Good to hear Fred as the CDR huh?

[@breedoucet]

Loved this video!! Thanks so much for sharing :):)

[@lunarmodule5]

Briana Jacquard welcome Briana!

[@Etherdave]

No engines, no drag chute... perfect landing. Fred Haise is a steely-eyed missile-man!

[@JimTheZombieHunter]

Looking back on this it all feels like we were so naive. We had COMPUTERS in our actual homes, and they were going to build a fleet of SPACE SHUTTLES. All those things we watched on our favorite sci-fi flicks were surely about to come to pass. The turn of the millennium still seemed so .. far away - I could really only imagine the amazing things that I'd see when I grew up. My Grandfather - who in his lifetime 'saw' the Wright brothers and Apollo 11, told me that I'd likely as not visit the moon in my lifetime, expressing a bit of sadness that he wouldn't. Yep .. naive indeed.

[@robadams5799]

It wasn't for lack of technology.

[@MrCraigfess]

Какие молодцы, привет из России, надеюсь мы когда-нибудь вместе полетим на Марс!

[@rudexbruiser2604]

The Enterprise was the first space shuttle of the lineup. It was basically a concept space shuttle or a prototype. It doesn't have rockets or a heat shield, so it never went to space. It just performed test flights inside earth's atmosphere and is launched from a modified commercial airliner.

[@EchoesDistant]

That airliner (and one other) was also used to carry ALL shuttles across the country after landing.

[@dks13827]

I remember. 26 years old and in commercial flight training.

[@LadiesMan.217.]

People who say *”thE SpACe ShUtTLe iS a PlANe nOT GliDeR”* needs to watch this video. Flat earthers are annoying.

[@ericksuarezb.5994]

very nice footage !!!

[@lunarmodule5]

thanks erick

[@watkinscopicat]

wow! the landing gear came out so close to landing!

[@don312000]

They actually started deploying them a lot earlier after STS-3, when the "gear locked" indicators came on with a whole TWO SECONDS to spare before touchdown! Decided that was cutting things a bit too close.

[@jimw8615]

Good stuff guys

[@blabla-dl7mg]

The landing gear was gravity propelled.

[@davidcouch6514]

I had forgotten about this but I remember the 747 ferried Enterprise stopped in Atlanta my aspiring scientist little brother went to the airport to take pictures.

[@cbspock1701]

I remember watching this live

[@Dimmary]

I'm a big star trek fan too.

[@junothejupiterorbiter1035]

Beautiful

[@Matt-mo8sl]

And look at us now, no shuttles, no space travel except SpaceX, country in disarray, no direction, no dreams or ambitions. Just chronic whining. I remember being a kid watching this at 7 years old. The start of so many good things to come with this new machine.

[@francesray6465]

i lived there at that time. Watched this stuff all the time. Those kind of professionals are long gone now sorry to say.

[@marilyn3583]

Longest rollout I've seen. He could have taxied it in using the rest of that kinetic.

[@sbs21078]

Nice video. Real clean glimpse of test flight and landing characteristics.

[@lunarmodule5]

Sam Spangler Thanks for the comment Sam - I had put this one up from the TV coverage some years back - but the NASA commentary is what I have been after for years. LM5

[@V01t2]

Don't care much for her design, but MY GOD is that majestic

[@skyprop]

Nice Job !!!! I Belive it is Engle/Haise flying.....Great job digging this out of the bottom of the Barrel!

[@skyprop]

Correction. Fullerton and Haise :)

[@theglockdub]

amazing

[@Dartman6]

As I remember it, Fitz Fulton also flew the B-52 launch vehicle during the X-15 test program.

[@conscienciapositiva8706]

Unbelievable, engines off, the shuttle gliding!

[@hfzmf8870]

I wonder why it didnt stall

[@snappo20]

Enterprise didn’t have any engines.

[@marvelgeek9577]

It’s a shame Enterprise never actually made it to space. Although she still paved the way for future space travel.

[@robadams8057]

That was quite a parade of vehicles after the landing there.

[@stevestarr9769]

The day before I turned 16, and 4 days before I was hit by a car on my bike on the same day Elvis died. Memories.

[@Newo48]

Ummmmmm

[@HighlandMike325]

You'd always remember being hit by a car Steve, that can't have been good. I myself was just a bit too young to remember Elvis dying, but I do remember my next door neighbour playing him for three days solid crying. Memories

[@Johninadelaide2022]

This is really amazing stuff. Thank you for sharing it........ Why did you get dislikes?

[@marcziegenhain8420]

No bloody A, B, C or D.

[@theenzoferrari458]

Yes. Enterprise NCC-1701-A,B,C,D designators.

[@zestydude87]

Scottie using the holodeck scene!

[@Zoomer30]

In my mind, there either should not have been a NCC-1701 and it should have been A B C and D... or there should not have been a A ship. Having 1701 and 1701-A makes no sense (A=1, first)

[@priyonjoni]

Zoomer30 welcome to Star Trek

[@deryabaygan-robinett1220]

0:31 that looks so beautiful with the space shuttle the american airlines 747 livery and the fighter get. i could make a poster out of this if the camera proportions were correct.

[@saaber95]

12 August 1977 the day i was born!

[@F-Man]

42 years ago today!

[@brucetharpe762]

Who’s the mission control commentator? He sounds so chill and I’ve heard his voice in the Apollo Missions too.

[@lunarmodule5]

I think its Jack Riley....might be wrong...

[@hugo-garcia]

Enterprise , two to beam up

[@Guy-zf5of]

the smaller chase planes were there to beam out in case of an emergency

[@RandomizedPalette]

Space Shuttle: I can't get beyond LEO! SLS:I have great thrust, but I only can carry 140 tons of payload! Saturn V: *hold my beer*

[@Zoomer30]

And it takes NASA 11 years to make one SLS rocket.

[@wazda6488]

Starship superheavy: play time is over kids!

[@TheBest14184]

JustViggo 64 I mean starship can Cary a smaller payload than Saturn V but okay

[@jeremykiahsobyk102]

Butter

[@gene118]

Very much appreciate you posting this, Would you mind if I send a link to this video? Since your already got the okay from NASA figured I would send you the traffic. "Too Good Of A Glider" I really love that part! 👍🚀🌠🌚 #Namaste 🙏🏼☯♾

[@lunarmodule5]

Please do

[@DartzIRL]

Falling with Style.

[@mesner5x]

I know the Star Trek cast and some crew got to see Enterprise and were photographed with it but did they also watch the launch?

[@X-JAKA7]

Space Shuttle Enterprise was never launched into space.

[@nesprogram3182]

@@X-JAKA7 I don't think that's what he means

[@tomandsamuel]

@lunarmodule5 I so hope you get the onboard audio for this flight? 🤞🏼

[@leeroyholloway4277]

America - when everything didn't suck

[@TactileCoder]

Right, this was at the end of one of the most brutal wars in Vietnam. Of course it sucked. When did it never suck?

[@tomyamartino]

What this video needs is a deluge of electronic music.

[@oliverlane9716]

I'm curious why did the escort craft lower her landing gear so early, I thought normally they are lowered pretty late.

[@SilverbackGorilla69]

it may have been to create drag so they could slow to the pace of the shuttle

[@jacksdjfam]

I would guess because this was the first landing test the escort pilot would not have known for sure how fast / steep it would come down so needed to be ready to land

[@blabla-dl7mg]

Dew to the fact that the the shute had the quality’s of a brick. So those air craft had a to produce all the drag they can.

[@tomandsamuel]

John Young was flying one of the chase planes

[@michaelstevantoni4553]

Where is this footage from. I'm trying to get the rights to it for a short film.

[@hihi-rp2uy]

The back and front of that shuttle is so cursed

[@theenzoferrari458]

Hello. When will the federation build NCC 1701-A constitution class shuttle?

[@davidross5593]

Just curious. Was the smaller plane tied into the comms?

[@lunarmodule5]

Yes they were, they called the seperation, gear down, height left through to touchdown calls

[@danielbarnes3271]

I fought because they called her a "garbage scow"!

[@chrisbradshaw7273]

Did the Shuttle have an aircraft type APU? If not, how were the all the systems powered?

[@johnmccnj]

Fuel Cells: www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/hydrogen/fc_shuttle.html

[@FlyNAA]

Chris Bradshaw 3 fuel cells for electrical power for the entire mission, and 3 hydrazine APU’s for hydraulic power (for control surfaces and engine gimbaling) during launch and reentry-landing

[@funnyitworkedlasttime6611]

What did they call the cap that was on the end of orbiters where the main engines would go?

[@lunarmodule5]

Interestingly they called it the tailcone... regards LM5

[@mikegallant811]

​@@lunarmodule5or the boat tail.

[@maxiononame5394]

The true oldest space shuttle

[@Westhoust]

I don't know how it can glide with little aerodynamics with an ease even gliding better than an airplane.

[@michaelgrey7854]

Im amazed that the gear came down so late. What if tgey didnt come down? Belly landing on the lake bed?

[@official_gd_sadd_2024_yt]

What happened to the 747 after Shuttle Separation?

[@RedSkyHorizon]

Could this flight be the only audio and video version in existence ?

[@lunarmodule5]

Hi Tom.All the video is available and stored in the US national archive. The audio is available online. Regards LM5

[@RedSkyHorizon]

Sorry, I meant is this the only video that exists with this specific audio ?

[@lunarmodule5]

Well I haven't seen it on YT or elsewhere....but remember I matched the audio to the TV coverage....so in that respect it's not original

[@RedSkyHorizon]

but much appreciated

[@benbohannon]

Who’s this Roger guy they keep talking about?

[@enzodib8050]

Fred haise hasn't had any problem

[@mariocisneros911]

Scary . I think the nose gear should have opened much earlier

[@Sovietycii]

whats the big thing on the back covering the rocket engines

[@lunarmodule5]

Its an aerodynamic shroud designed to ensure a smooth slipstream which enhanced the 747s performance when carrying the shuttles. It was used on 3 of the 5 ALT flights to help ascertain and confirm flight profiles of the orbiter and was always used when the 747 transported the shuttle

[@Sovietycii]

@@lunarmodule5 Ahh, i always thought it was originally powered by turbines

[@tvdan1043]

10:51 Fastest airstairs ever

[@coukamlung]

Is the shuttle self-propelled? i cant see the reactors.

[@tvdan1043]

Enterprise was just a landing test vehicle for the Space Shuttle program. It didn't have any engines, although it did have dummy engines attached for later test landings.

[@paulcastillo9323]

That was the kids back in the name of space shuttle Enterprise touch and go it was Air Force Base in the early seventies when I was a kid I'm now 53 years old I wish we had the Enterprise here in California but it's a New York it's okay

[@robbelliii]

Me too. I’m 52 and grew up in Leona Valley (near Palmdale). I left the area in 1986 and have been in DC Metro area ever since. I used to like seeing it here at Smithsonian before it went to NY. You should have seen the crummy old hanger they had it in for years at Dulles at one point. Not going to name any names, but I got to enter this hanger once and got to touch the Enterprise…should have had a camera but did not get any. It was before cell phones had decent cameras. Remember when the Shuttle would go down Sierra Highway on its way to Edwards?

[@fobeso78]

What is in aft on space shuttle

[@MikeGoesBadaBoom]

Why wasn’t Fred Haise a shuttle commander?

[@lunarmodule5]

Fred was slated to be the CDR on STS-3 when the original OFT crews were announced in 1978. He was CDR -Lousma was PLT. STS-1 and 2 were the same as was flown, STS-4 would have been Brand and Fullerton. Fred left NASA in 1979 so the crew assignments changed. Lousma moved to CDR STS-3 and Fullerton moved to STS-3 PLT, Mttingly and Hartsfield were named STS-4 crew. It was thought that Vance Brand wanted STS-5 as it was the first operational flight and perhaps because he wasn't a military astronaut and STS-4 was to be a DOD led flight. Fres went to Grumman to become their chief test pilot, a post he held until 1986. Hope that helps!

[@MikeGoesBadaBoom]

lunarmodule5 thanks! Just a bummer that Freddo didn’t go back to space 😭

[@larsfroelich]

So why an air brake instead of a drag chute?

[@alvianchoiriapriliansyah9882]

Because the runway it landed on is the longest ever in the world

[@musicareye1538]

Seria bueno que tubiera la opcion de subtitulo en español...saludos desde Chile!!!!

[@lunarmodule5]

Hola ! Me encantaría tener estos videos en traducción, pero no sé cómo hacerlo en KZbin

[@gianlucamazzoleni4965]

Does not it able to take off by itself from a runway?

[@robbelliii]

No

[@CIARUNSITE]

The proximity of that fighter jet seems awfully dangerous, but I guess that's why I don't fly space shuttles, among 9000 other reasons.

[@dsrutherford9197]

As an old guy ok mid 50s, remember this. So very cool. Now we’re back to paying Musk to stick astronauts into tiny command capsule and landing by parachute into water.

[@perryshildrick5190]

Why does the chase plane drop it's landing gear so early ?

[@PabloGonzalez-hv3td]

To create drag

[@RushMoore]

The shuttle was probably descending at about 10 degrees and was at a stable airspeed. The T-38 can't maintain that descent angle in idle, with the speedbrakes out, without accelerating. Putting the gear down would increase the drag and make it much easier. Having said that, the way to really get the T-38 to slow down is to do a buggy whip, which is essentially performing an accelerated stall several times in a row, which will exponentially increase drag for a short period each time. Being the first flight, putting the gear down would be easier, but not as fun, as long as the airspeed requirement was less than 240 knots.

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

Look at the touch of the chase plane pilot. Amazing

[@wildbill7267]

Is love to see the first spaceship to Mars to be named Enterprise. Bogus that the shuttle Enterprise never end into space. Doesn't count.

[@theprogressiveatheist7024]

Just think, space shuttle Enterprise will one day carry America's Astromen to Space Station Freedom.

[@farel9476]

Enterprise was only for Atmospheric drag, it never goes to space

[@elliotb1137]

How does the shuttle produce sufficient thrust with the cone over the engine nacelles?

[@ericmooney5740]

The shuttle glides to a landing none of the are ever using the engines on approach. The engines are only used at launch, the enterprise engines were not functional they were just mock ups

[@jacksdjfam]

Enterprise wasnt fitted with engines as it was never intended to fly into space. It also didnt have a working heat shield.

[@MattMatt2308]

Because it's a glider

[@cashbrooks6375]

Because of JP Holland submarine and others factory and kerrfot All I want is a Pepsi machine

[@dks13827]

Who was capcom ?

[@lunarmodule5]

Astronaut Karol "Bo" Bobko was the capcom