Space Shuttle Orbiter Approach and Landing Test (ALT) Program Final Evaluation Report - Complete Details on the 1977 Captive and Free Flight Tests on the 747 STS Carrier Aircraft

This official NASA internal program document - converted for accurate flowing-text ebook format reproduction - is a comprehensive final report on the historic test flights of the Enterprise with the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in 1977. The introduction states:

The Approach and Landing Test Program consisted of a series of steps leading to the demonstration of the capability of the Space Shuttle orbiter to safely approach and land under conditions similar to those planned for the final phases of an orbital flight. The tests were conducted with the orbiter mounted on top of a specially modified carrier aircraft. The first step, completed January 10, 1977, provided airworthiness and performance verification of the carrier aircraft after modification. The second step, completed on March 2, 1977, consisted of three taxi tests and five flight tests with an inert unmanned orbiter. The third step, completed on July 26, 1977, consisted of three mated tests with an active manned orbiter. The fourth step, completed October 26, 1977, consisted of five flights in which the orbiter was separated from the carrier aircraft. For the final two flights, the orbiter tail cone, which had been used to reduce buffeting effects, was replaced by dummy main engines to simulate the actual orbital configuration. Landing gear braking and steering tests were accomplished during rollouts following the free flight landings. Ferry testing was integrated into the Approach and Landing Test Program to the extent possible. In addition, four ferry test flights were conducted with the orbiter mated to the carrier aircraft in the ferry configuration after the free-flight tests were completed.

Contents: INTRODUCTION * CAPTIVE-INERT TEST PHASE * TAXI TESTS * FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM * PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT * CAPTIVE-ACTIVE TEST PHASE * FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM * PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT * FREE FLIGHT TEST PHASE * FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM * Free Flight 1 * Free Flight 2 * Free Flight 3 * Free Flight 4 * Free Flight 5 * ORBITER PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT * Structures * Mechanical Systems * Power * Pyrotechnics * Avionics * Environmental Control and Life Support System * Aerodynamics * Government-Furnished Equipment * PILOT'S REPORTS * Free Flight 1 * Free Flight 2 * Free Flight 3 * Free Flight 4 * Free Flight 5 * FLIGHT 5 APPROACH AND LANDING ASSESSMENT * FLIGHT TEST REQUIREMENTS ASSESSMENT * FLIGHT OPERATIONS ASSESSMENT * TRAINING AND SIMULATIONS * ONBOARD SYSTEMS * Software Flexibility * Ground Monitoring Concept * Redundancy Management * Redundancy Management Switches * GROUND SYSTEMS * ANOMALY SUMMARY * CAPTIVE-ACTIVE FLIGHTS * Hydraulic System 1 Water Boiler Steam Vent Line Temperature Reading s Low * Inertial Measurement Unit 1 Would Not Go To Operate * Nose Landing Gear Door Thruster Triggering Pawl Did Not Function * Auxiliary Power Unit 1 Exhaust Duct Temperature Measurement Failed * FREE FLIGHTS * General Purpose Computer 2 Lost Synchronization at Separation * Equivalent Airspeed "Off" Flag * Main Landing Gear Door Hinge Pin Assembly Was Missing * Orbiter UHF Communications Were Marginal * Hydraulic System 3 Pressure Was Low During Postlanding Load Test * CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS * REFERENCES * APPENDIX A - VEHICLE DESCRIPTION * APPENDIX B - VEHICLE HISTORICAL DATA * APPENDIX C - CAPTIVE-INERT AND CAPTIVE-ACTIVE FLIGHT DESCRIPTIONS * APPENDIX D - VEHICLE MASS PROPERTIES * APPENDIX E - FLIGHT TEST REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY * APPENDIX F - METEOROLOGICAL DATA * APPENDIX G - PROBLEM SUMMARY