#enterprise-a

A different Enterprise concept for the unmade 2018 Star Trek 4 movie.

From Ed Natividad on Instagram

Circa 1985 to 1987

From my Alternative History Post (link) this is how the Space Shuttle Enterprise evolved from the 4th operational orbiter in 1985 to the prototype unmanned shuttle.

More History on the Shuttle:

• April 1983: Enterprise is returned to Palmdale for her disassembled and rebuild.

• As a weight saving measure her mid-fuselage is returned to Convair for a complete rebuild to bring it inline with OV-103 and OV-104.

• to further lighten her frame, her aft-fuselage is rebuilt with similar materials as her sisters.

• Engineers at Rockwell suggests rebuilding or replacing her wings as well but NASA doesn't have room in the budget.

• May 1985: at long last, Enterprise is rolled out and joins the fleet. She weighs slightly less than Columbia. Her main issue is her wings are heavier and weaker than the other Orbiters.

• September 1985: STS-21 is Enterprise's first mission

• 1987: During the Shuttle hiatus following the Challenger Disaster, she went through a mini refit that saw her exterior markings change. (NASA in this timeline returned to the Meatball logo sooner than in the OTL)

Circa 1988 to 1993

• April 1988: STS-30 is Enterprise's first launch following the hiatus.

• December 1993: following STS-61, Enterprise is retired due to being the oldest in the fleet. Endeavour takes her place in the fleet.

• June 1994: Enterprise is flown to Dulles Airport, Washington DC, and is given to the Smithsonian for eventual display when the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is built. NASA retains the option recalled her if needed.

• 1998: NASA studies modifying the Shuttle-C software to work on the Space Shuttle and potentially using Enterprise as a reusable Shuttle-C. The reasoning behind this option this configuration would be a cheaper alternative to the X-33 program. However, while the shuttle could be retrofitted with the software, the shuttle would have less cargo capacity than the X-33 and still required use of expensive legacy launch facilities (ie VAB and LC-39). The study ends with only the software in a beta state.

• December 2003: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is opened with Enterprise being one of its major exhibits.

• November 2003: the Shuttle-C software is used to return STS-118 Columbia to Earth and with critical damage to her structure (mainly her port wing and some internal damage from a collapsed landing gear).

• May 2004: NASA recalls Enterprise to replace Columbia.

• August 2004: initial plans are to return her flight, unmodified. However, NASA develops the Shuttle-C software further and changes it's name to A.S.Tr.O.S (Autonomous Space Transport Operating System).

• New wings! Enterprise is fitted with new wings which are of a modified design and lighter and stronger than the wings of her sisters. With other upgrades and modifications, she is slightly lighter than her younger sisters.

• Some within NASA joking refer to her as Enterprise-A, as a reference to Star Trek.

• September 2006: to commemorate the 30th anniversary of her unveiling to the media, Lockheed-Rockwell rolls her out of their Palmdale facility to rechristen the Shuttle. In attendance, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nicholas, Walter Koenig, Christopher Doohan and Rod Roddenberry.

- when asked by the media, Leonard remarked she is still a sight to behold and is glad she will continue her mission of exploration.

Enterprise A (unmanned)

• July 2006: to test the A.S.Tr.O.S. during a return to earth and landing, a new series of Approach and Landing Tests (ALT) were conducted with NASA's 747 SCA (N905NA) at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base. 15 flights are flown to put the software in the real world, with two astronauts on board to step in when needed. Barring some higher than normal landing speeds, the software passes all of its objectives.

• It should be noted, while the rebuilt Enterprise is mainly used as an unmanned orbiter, this is a misnomer. It is more accurate to call her a hybrid shuttle. NASA has the option to convert her back into a manned shuttle if desired or needed.

- This nearly was used in 2015 during STS-154. Space Shuttle Atlantis was after conducting maintenance/upgrades on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the crew was unable to disconnect the shuttle from the telescope. CTS-48 Enterprise was already on LC-39B for a cargo mission to the International Space Station. All that was needed was to remove supplies from the payload bay and reinstall the seats in her crew space. Fortunately, this rescue wasn't needed as the Astronauts conducted an unscheduled EVA and manually disconnected the Shuttle from the HST.

• November 2008: first flight of Enterprise-A (CTS-11)

• When Columbia was given a cosmic restoration for her display, the first set of wings from Enterprise was used to replace her damaged one.

• 2019: Enterprise is retired for the final time following CTS-74.

• 2020: Enterprise is on display at Space Center Houston with the restored Star Trek Galileo Shuttlecraft prop.

By Ames

Earlier this week, I teased you with my Shark Week–themed post comparing all the classes of Starfleet ships from Star Trek to different species of sharks, and now we’re ready to dive into these shark-infested waters! For the next couple of weeks, join us as we debate how shipshape all these ship shapes really are, from the teeny tiny Oberth class to the bloated Galaxy class and everything in between.

What poor-ass timing, considering Eaglemoss model creators literally went out of business between us recording this first episode and us releasing it. Major bummer, guys.

This week, we’re starting with the originals and working through The Next Generation, so you’ll see a lot of the most instantly recognizable and famous designs in the whole franchise. Follow along below with all the different screengrabs, model designs, captures from Star Trek Timelines, etc. as you listen to our banter on this week’s podcast episode (ship chatter starts at 1:01:40). These are the adventures of the Starship Literally All Of Them. Engage!

James T. Kirk: He is supposedly killed during the maiden voyage of the Enterprise-B in 2293, but was actually transported into the Nexus dimension.  He leaves the Nexus in 2371 to help Jean-Luc Picard prevent Soran from destroying a solar system.  He dies and is buried on Veridian III.

Spock: In 2387, Romulus’ host star goes supernova. In an attempt to save the planet, he sets off the red matter device to create an artificial black hole; this fails, and he is pulled into the resulting wormhole and transported back in time to an alternate universe 2258.  This universe’s version of Vulcan is destroyed, and he helps lead the diaspora to a new homeland.  He dies in this version of 2263.

Leonard McCoy: He is last seen aboard the Enterprise-D in 2364, aged 137 and still kicking.  Time and cause of death unknown.

Montgomery Scott: In 2294, en route to a retirement colony, his ship crashes into a Dyson sphere.  Unable to escape, he stores his consciousness inside the last working transporter; his atoms are scanned, broken apart, then held in limbo, awaiting a destination that was never set.  He is rescued 75 years later (2369) by the crew of the Enterprise-D.  After helping them avoid a similar fate, he takes off in a shuttle craft to explore the future galaxy.  Time and cause of death unknown.

Nyota Uhura: She is last seen aboard the Enterprise-A as communications officer in 2293.  Time and cause of death unknown.

Hikaru Sulu: He is promoted to Captain of the USS Excelsior in 2290, and his daughter becomes a helmsman aboard the Enterprise-B in 2293.  Time and cause of death unknown.

Pavel Chekov: He is last seen aboard the Enterprise-B as a guest during it’s maiden voyage in 2293.  Time and cause of death unknown.