The complete Shuttle Fleet AU
This is just my thoughts about how things might align for Enterprise to be refitted into an operational shuttle. This comes after reading a lot of the behind the scenes decisions and abandoned plans NASA had over the last 40 years. I only listed major events.
It wasn't meant to be this long but I hyperfocused too much on it one morning. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it.
• 1972: NASA startes the Space Shuttle Program.
• OV-101 Enterprise: same rollout and testing as our timeline in 1976-77
•STA-099: delivered to Lockheed for structural load tests to simulate the launch and re-entry of an operational orbiter in February 1978.
• Point of divergent: The decision to use STA-099 instead of OV-101 as the second operational orbiter came too late as the frame was already tested to 140% stress load. At this point, it would be too costly to repair and bring it back inline. It was decided to continue testing to destruction (as was originally planned in our timeline), although some parts are removed to be refurbished for OV-103.
• OV-102 Columbia completed and rolled out in March 1980. (NASA doesn't relocate Columbia to KSC in March 1979 in an attempt to speed up her tile installation, which only delayed her completion).
•STS-1 is launched in December 1980 (instead of April 1981)
• NASA gives the go ahead to add Enterprise to the fleet and have her rebuilt after Congress increases their budget, but the work would start once OV-104 is completed.
• 1981: long led items for Enterprise's rebuild are started. This includes a new crew pressure vessel and a new aft-fuselage.
• OV-103 starts earlier and it's production is accelerated with parts salvaged from STA-099 (such as the forward fuselage upper section, elevons and vertical stabilizer). Construction completed in 1982 and christened Challenger.
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• 1983: STS-7 is Challenger's maiden mission. Onboard is Sally Ride.
• 1983: OV-104 is competed and christened Discovery.
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• STS-12 is Discovery's first mission.
Note: NASA never uses the STS-41-D format. Where the first digit indicating the federal fiscal year, second digit indicating the launch site (1 was Kennedy Space Center and 2 was Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base), and the letter indicating scheduling sequence. This was due NASA Administrator James M. Beggs's triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13). In this timeline, the assistant admins were able to talk him out of it and simply skip STS-13.
• 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.
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• 1985: at long last, Enterprise is rolled out and joins the fleet. She weighs about the same as Columbia despite weight saving implemented during her rebuild.
• 1985: Columbia is returned to Palmdale for refurbishment and to remove testing equipment (most notable is the ejection seats). This sees her thermal protection system revised and her 32,000 tiles reduced to 24,300. Most are replaced by Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation blankets which was used on the other three orbiters.
• September 1985: STS-21 is Enterprise's first mission
• STS-25 (STS-51-L in our timeline) launches at a later date due to NASA management listening to the Engineers about icy conditions on January 26, 1986. NASA quietly orders the complete redesign of the Solid Rocket Boosters.
• May 1986: tragedy strikes OV-103 Challenger during STS-27, when the attempted launch of the Centaur carrying the Ulysses probe explodes killing all those onboard. (A real fear in our timeline.)
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• The Shuttle fleet is grounded for a year, during the investigation. Ultimately the Investigation board concluds NASA was trying to do too much with too limited a system/funding and is used by the administration to demand a bigger budget. (It has less of an impact on the American psyche since it wasn't televised).
• The USAF cancels all Shuttle missions from Vandeberg Air Force Base. (Same as our timeline)
• With an increased budget, NASA agrees to Rockwell's offer to build two new orbiters for the price of one offer.
• 1986: Columbia is returned to NASA after her refurbishment. However, she is placed into storage with the rest of the fleet.
• 1987: return to flight with STS-28 with Discovery. Also first launch with the redesigned SRBs.
• 1988: NASA launches the Shuttle-C program (or Cargo Transportation System), an expendable unmanned cargo pod, using the existing shuttle hardware. The goal is to increase the number of launches by augmenting the Orbiters and reduce the risks to human lives.
•1988: STS-29 Atlantis suffers a foam strike during launch. Post flight analysis determines the foam came from the bipod connected the ET near the top to the front underside of the orbiter. The orbiter was nearly lost during re-entry if it weren't for the fact the strike happened to a tile that was over less critical areas and the missing tile was over a steel patch for an antenna, which gave extra protection to the spacecraft structure. NASA removes the foam from the bipod connection on all missions going forward.
• OV-105 is built from spares from Challenger and Discovery. Completed in 1990 and christened Atlantis. Her design is the first to include a glass cockpit and other improvements.
• 1991: STS-45 is Atlantis's first mission
• OV-106 is a complete to an slightly improved design, making her lighter and stronger than her sisters. Externally she looks the same. Completed in 1992 and is christened Endeavour.
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- Structural spares are built to replace the ones used in Atlantis's construction and are designated OV-107.
• 1992: first launch of the Shuttle-C (CTS-1). Mission was a success, carrying a DoD payload.
Shuttle-C render by Nathan Koga for Space Flight Insider: link, link
• CTS-3: launches the Ulysses II probe
NASA image: link
• 1993: STS-59 is Endeavour's first mission
• Rockwell International merges with Lockheed to become Lockheed-Rockwell (refered to by some as Lock-Rock).
• December 1993: OV-101 Enterprise is retired due to being the oldest in the fleet. Endeavour takes her place in the fleet. Enterprise is given to the Smithsonian with the option of being recalled by NASA if needed.
• 1994: NASA launches the X-33 program to compliment the shuttle as an unmanned reusable launch vehicle (RLV) and replace the Shuttle-C.
• 1996: CTS-5 carries the first component of the International Space Station.
Artwork by okan170: link
•1996: the Shuttle-C program is cancelled to divert funds to the X-33 program.
• 1998: Lockheed-Rockwell design is selected over proposals from McDonnell-Douglas and Northrop-Grumman/Boeing
SDASM Archives: 08_00991
• 1998: NASA begins the X-38 CRV (Crew Return Vehicle) program. The CRV is designed to be a lifeboat for the ISS.
• 2001: X-33 RLV program is shelved due to technical challenges and budget cuts.
• 2003: STS-118, Columbia conducts her first (and only) mission to the International Space Station. While docked, it was discovered an ice strike damaged her reinforced carbon–carbon leading wing edge panel. The crew stays in the ISS a week while waiting for rescue from STS-119 Atlantis. NASA jerry-riggs an autopilot system to have Columbia re-enter the atmosphere unmanned after her leading edge was temporarily repaired. It was expected for her to burn up in the atmosphere and what remained to land in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. However, against all odds Columbia survives and lands at Edwards Air Force Base. Although her port land gear collapsed during breaking after tough down and caused additional damage to the batter shuttle.
• The crew of STS-118 ride back on STS-119 Atlantis and land in Kennedy Space Center.
• Unfortunately, the damage to Columbia is too extensive and she is retired. She is placed in storage at Palmdale, California.
• In the wake, NASA begins Project Constellation, with the goal being to complete the original space transportation system (STS) mission. Which was a reusable system to carry astronauts to the moon and beyond. NASA and the US calls on the international community to fund and build the components.
NASA ID: MSFC-70-PD-4085 B
• The ET is modified with a half shell to remove the risks of form/ice strikes and the Shuttle TPS is upgraded with the materials from the shelved X-33 program.
• OV-101 Enterprise is recalled by NASA to be the prototype of an unmanned shuttle and is given a thorough rebuild with newer and lighter wings and other components but entirely unmanned. Some joking refer to her as Enterprise-A, as a reference to Star Trek.
• NASA funds Lockheed-Rockwell to build OV-107, another uncrewed version, to augment Enterprise.
• The ISS construction continues but becomes a research/launching platform for missions to the moon and ultimately beyond
• 2004: the X-38 is launched on a liftover Shuttle-C, modified for lifting body, to the ISS (CTS-10).
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Artwork by SpacePozzolo: link
• 2005: return to flight with STS-121 Discovery.
• 2008: first flight of Enterprise-A (CTS-11).
• 2008: the ISS is completed
Artwork by NanoRacks: link
• 2009: OV-107 construction is completed and christened Constitution. Her first flight happens later that year (CTS-16).
• 2009: NASA announces the rocket that will carry the components of the Constellation programs beyond Earth orbit will be called the SLS (Space Launch System). Boeing was selected to build the core stage. The SLS will used SSME at the end of their life's and newly constructed expendable versions. A third launch, pad 39C, will be constructed for the SLS.
• 2009: Lunar Transfer Vehicle (LTV, later renamed Orion) is used to transfer crews from LEO to Lunar orbit. Two components make up the vehicle. The crew section is to be built by NASA/CSA and the fuel/propulsion section built by the ESA. The SLS will be used to launch the fuel/propulsion section of the LTV.
- OV-101 and OV-107 are used to launch the crew section of the LTV. Which will rendezvous with the ISS.
- SLS Block II, an upgraded version, is use to launch the Gateway components. Gateway components will be built in the ESA and Japan.
- A Lunar space station, Gateway, launched and constructed in lunar orbit for Orion to rendezvous and house the Altair lunar lander. Three Orions are kept in orbit, one at each station in case of an emergency and a third in use.
• The first is find locations with abundant raw materials for fuel the future moonbase.
• 2010: NASA announces the X-50 SSTO Program and the Commercial Crew Program, with the goal of replacing the Shuttle (including the Enterprise and Constitution). The X-50 is the successor to the X-33.
• 2012: Lockheed-Rockwell is selected to build the X-50
• 2014: SpaceX Dragon and Sierra Space Dreamchaser are selected as part of the Commercial Crew Program.
• 2017: OV-104, OV-105 & OV-106 are retired when Dreamchaser and SpaceX Dragon are brought online. List of each shuttle's last mission:
- STS-203 Discovery
- STS-204 Endeavour
- STS-205 Atlantis
• 2018: the maiden flight (STS-207) of the X-50 Starlight (OV-201 Constellation)
• 2019: OV-101 is retired for the final time when the X-50 Starlight shuttles are brought online. OV-107 is kept in standby but eventually is turned over to a museum. List of their missions:
- STS-235 Enterprise
- CTS-236 Constitution
• NASA has three operational Starlights. Spares are construction, OV-204.
-OV-201 Constellation
-OV-202 Columbia II
-OV-203 Adventure
• 2019: the first launch of the SLS was a success
Artwork by okan170: link
• 2020: the Space Shuttles are displayed in the following cities:
- OV-101 Enterprise: Space Center Houston
- OV-102 Columbia: California Science Center in Los Angeles, California (volunteers at Lockheed-Rockwell repair her enough to be put on display)
- OV-104 Discovery: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Smithsonian, in Washington DC
- OV-105 Atlantis: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
- OV-106 Endeavour: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City, New York
- OV-107 Constitution: National Museum of the US Air Force in Riverside, Ohio
• 2022: the first Orion (LTV-101: Pathfinder) is launched into orbital aboard SLS-2. It conducts tests over several orbits and docks with the ISS.
• 2023: OV-202 Columbia II launches and fuels up the Pathfinder. Four crewmen board the spacecraft and depart for the moon...
Artwork by Seth Pritchard: link
