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The sign accompanying Space Shuttle Enterprise. It reads

Space Shuttle Enterprise

The first Space Shuttle orbiter, Enterprise, is a full-scale test vehicle used for flights in the atmosphere and tests on the ground. Officially designated Orbiter Vehicle 101 (OV-101) Enterprise is not equipped for spaceflight. It has no propulsion system and only simulated thermal tiles.

In 1977 Enterprise completed approach and landing tests at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California. It was flown atop a Boeing 747 carrier airplane and also released for piloted descents to check out its systems and performance. It later underwent launch vibration tests and fit checks at other NASA centers. Although Enterprise never flew in space, it introduced a new era in space transportation and was the flagship for a fleet of reusable shuttles. The Smithsonian acquired Enterprise in 1985.

Transferred from NASA

Wingspan:	24 m (78 ft)
Length:	37 m (122 ft)
Height:	17 m (57 ft)
Weight:	68,000 kg (150,000 lb)
Manufacturer:	Rockewell International (prime contractor)

A19860004000