It was 36 years ago today that the first space shuttle, OV-101 Enterprise, rolled out of its manufacturing facility in Palmdale, CA. NASA had intended to name the first of its new space planes Constitution and unveil it on Constitution Day (September 17). However, that restless and semi-insane group known collectively as Trekkies inundated President Gerald Ford with letters requesting the craft be named Enterprise after the saucer-shaped starship from their beloved show. President Ford never officially admitted this was the reason for the name change, but did admit he liked the name and ordered NASA to call OV-101 Enterprise.
NASA, adept at keeping the boss happy, did so. They then went one step further and invited the cast and creator of Star Trek to Palmdale for the rollout of a real space ship named after their fictional starship.
[Image Credit: NASA]
<img src="http://img.pixtale.net/imager/w_990/h_/a40c646ffeb66d3401739876c8609679.jpg" width="500/">
Sort of fitting since she never went to space, much like her namesake.
Gee, is it 2265 yet?
Touché. I mean, neither has been to space yet.
As a side note, I tried to reply to this by replying to the Intense Debate notification email. It did not work. It shows up in my email, but not here. Anybody else ever have any luck with that.
I've never gotten a reply email to show up here. My ISP tags my Intense Debate messages as possible spam by altering the subject line, though, so I've always assumed the changed header was the cause.
"first space shuttle" There were 2 mock ups/simulators and then there was the "ORIGINAL" BID mock up which is still rotting last I heard in a warehouse in California.
I stand by my statement. mock-ups and simulators aren't the real thing.
Funny how they thought they would fly these things ogles of times a year… What happened with that plan?… (<Its rhetorical)
Those leisure suits make the TOS uniforms look good.
They look awesome. And those sideburns! But what's up with Scottie rocking the ancient Roman haircut and beard? Was he playing Emperor Hadrian on stage at the time?
Oh my.
Who is standing between Roddenberry and Koenig?
A NASA official? I could probably tell you if I did some digging but I really really don't want to dig… (still working on my own project)
No worries. The NASA website where the photo came from doesn't mention who it is. I didn't know if he was Star Trek person or a NASA official. If he's a Star Trek person, I figured someone would know.
Well I am sure It could be dug up or you could write NASA and hope that they respond…
He played Ensign Redshirt. Sadly, he was killed off later in the day before all the speeches were done.
On a more serious note a new review of WARP drive says that it is doable in a rational and real way and more so then previously thought. So in accordance with usual practices… WHOOOT. Can we call the first ship ENTERPRISE?
http://news.yahoo.com/warp-drive-may-more-feasibl…
If we figure this out before the planet becomes one united peaceful nation, Earth is doomed.
Obligatory.
http://www.buildtheenterprise.org/
And obligatory-er.
http://ussenterp.epetitions.net/signatures.php?pe…