ALT:preparations in California

Late in January 1977 Enterprise was mounted to a multi-wheel trailer, supported at the ET fittings. Combined weight of the orbiter and transporter was 220,000 pounds. A diesel tractor was to tow it along back roads that spanned the more than 30 miles distance between Plant 42 and Edwards AFB at speeds from three to five miles per hour. The trip called for more than clearing the route of traffic; power lines had been relocated, while street signs were mounted on hinges that allowed them to fold beneath the wings.

A few special gravel roads for the shuttle were constructed near Dryden, providing a shortcut around Rosamond Lake. One of these, an extension of Division Street on government property, was crossing over an archeologically interesting prehistoric Indian campsite. A line of telephone poles had prevented the road from being built around the site, so â€“ after preliminary evaluation and removal of some artifacts â€“ construction crews had put compressed granite under the asphalt road, protecting the site from damage. Both the Corps of Engineers and the archeological community kept records of the location of the prehistoric campsite, so that it could be fully investigated in the future.

Johnson Space Centerâ€™s Roundup reported on February 4, 1977:

â€œ''The real spaceship Enterprise made its first voyage January 31, along desert highways from Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, to nearby Edwards Air Force Base. The overland trip took place without any major problems and thousands of interested citizens ignored freezing temperatures and lined public roads along the route to get a look at the big bird.''

''The only real slowdown during the 13-hour move occurred when a road sign which was supposed to be removable wouldnâ€™t budge. A road engineer produced a chain saw but couldnâ€™t get it started. Someone then tried to use an axe on the sign. Finally, the saw was fixed up and the sign removed.''

''The trip began at 5:00 a.m. PST when the commercial tractor-type tow vehicle began pulling its big load away from Plant 42. After travelling on plant property for about 1.4 miles, the orbiter rolled out onto right-of-way owned by Los Angeles County Road Department. For 8.5 miles, the spacecraft was hauled along public roads.''

''In the early morning hours, hundreds of school children were brought out by their parents before class to view the orbiter as it passed. A busload of senior citizens from a convalescent home also braved the cold weather to see the new workhorse of the Space Shuttle program. Crowds of people lined every intersection along the route. For the last 22 miles of the trip, the orbiter was transported on roads within the confines of Edwards AFB.''

Upon arrival of the spacecraft and its convoy at the boundary of the base, the orbiter was received by former astronauts Maj. Gen. Tom Stafford, commander of the U.S. Flight Test Center at Edwards, and Dr. David R. Scott, director of DFRC.â€

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Enterprise was mated to the carrier aircraft during February 7 and 8, 1977, using the Mate/Demate Device at Dryden. The mated vehicle underwent weight, balance, and vibration checks during the morning of February 15, 1977. Enterprise, both when towed from Plant 42 to Edwards and when mounted atop the 747, sported a large fairing or tail cone extending to the rear of the aft fuselage. This smoothed her aft airflow. Without this fairing, that flow would be highly turbulent, buffeting the 747â€™s vertical fin and making it more difficult for the 747â€™s flight crew to accomplish the precision maneuvers needed for air launch. This fairing also reduced drag from the orbiter, increasing the 747â€™s ferry range. During ALT, this drag reduction also helped the orbiter to glide less steeply and to stay aloft longer.

But the shuttle certainly would not fly to orbit with this tail cone. The goal of the ALT program, the focus of her most demanding flights, was that Enterprise had to glide to safe landings with this cone off. Inevitably this meant steeper and more sudden descents, which demanded caution. â€œWe will approach it incrementally,â€ a Boeing manager told Aviation Week in 1976. â€œFirst, some high-speed taxi tests, then a low-speed flight. Then some simulated launches at launch altitude, and if everything is okay, a launch with the cone off.â€