[MikeHOU]

He and the other cast members from Star Trek were there to see the Enterprise off in 1976...her first test flight was in 1977...



The Enterprise was never constructed for space flight and actually never flew in space.

[Rhodalee]

It went right over where I live, I think I'll have to go and see it.

[June]

HoustonMike, Your devotion to science and space is something that I always admired about you. I cannot think about space without thinking about you. Thank you for all the knowledge you left here......

The pictures are wonderful. Please thank your brother Frank for me.

[Nancy]

There was beautiful footage on tonight's NBC Nightly News. Chilling, thrilling, sweet and so sad.

[MikeHOU]

Originally Posted by June

HoustonMike, Your devotion to science and space is something that I always admired about you. I cannot think about space without thinking about you. Thank you for all the knowledge you left here......

The pictures are wonderful. Please thank your brother Frank for me.

Thank you, June, for your very kind words.

I got hooked at a very young age watching the race to the moon. I wanted to be a part of it and never thought in a million years that someday I would. It's been a fun ride.

I will thank Frank - I've got more from my good friend Vinny - will try to post some tomorrow.

[George Lyons]

Great stuff as always, Mike - I love the 1976 Star Trek cast pic too - Their Hearts Were Young and Gay.

[MikeHOU]

Originally Posted by George Lyons

Great stuff as always, Mike - I love the 1976 Star Trek cast pic too - Their Hearts Were Young and Gay.

Sad that 3 of them are now gone.

Also, it seems Shatner was missing then and now.

As kids, Star Trek was the only show we were allowed to stay up late to watch.

[MikeHOU]

Originally Posted by Nancy

There was beautiful footage on tonight's NBC Nightly News. Chilling, thrilling, sweet and so sad.

I saw that too Nancy.

Brian Williams always does an excellent job there.

If anyone missed it you can catch it here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/...11832#47211832

[MikeHOU]

This was the money shot

[MikeHOU]

This one is pretty good too...

[June]

photos one word....MAGNIFICENT !!!

[voice1]

Very moving.

[Ace917]

Great photos, Mike!

I had the good luck to get a tour of the orbiter Enterprise here at Edwards AFB when I was working on my masters thesis. I don't remember if it had flown yet or not. I don't think so.

There are a whole series of videos of the test program here, many of them short. Most of them include the air-to-ground comm. Number 5 is interesting because it demonstrates how squirrely the vehicle's attitude control could be in the landing phase!

[MikeHOU]

Originally Posted by Ace917

Great photos, Mike!

I had the good luck to get a tour of the orbiter Enterprise here at Edwards AFB when I was working on my masters thesis. I don't remember if it had flown yet or not. I don't think so.

Thanks, Ace!

Instead of giving you a tour they should have given you the controls.

One of the few people I know that could have easily done it.

[June]

How do they do that question?

The hookup to the 747 placing the baby onto to her mother. Looks like a triangle shape something in the front..and what holds the back part of the baby to the mother?

[Nancy]

Thanks, June. Nobody chose to respond to my question and I am very curious given the bumping around that can occur on take-off and landing.

[MikeHOU]

Originally Posted by June

How do they do that question?

The hookup to the 747 placing the baby onto to her mother. Looks like a triangle shape something in the front..and what holds the back part of the baby to the mother?

Hmmm...good question...let me see what more I can find, but here is something for now:

http://mofak.com/shuttle_mates_boeing_747.htm

[MikeHOU]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Thanks, June. Nobody chose to respond to my question and I am very curious given the bumping around that can occur on take-off and landing.

Sorry, Nancy, I must have missed your question.

I'm more of a software guy especially for GN&C (Guidance, Navigation and Control) - so hardware is not my expertise - but I'll try to find answers from good sources.

[MikeHOU]

Here is a time lapse video:

Source: YouTube

Of course, its not a standard 747. It's structure was modified to handle the weight of the shuttle.

[MikeHOU]

Here is a view of the mounting bracket...engineers with a sense of humor!