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AIAA-1978-1446

The Approach and Landing Test was conducted to verify the landing capability of the Orbiter. The preliminary mated test phases led up to the free flight tests and were used to check out software and hardware systems in a constrained environment. The tests were conducted with the Orbiter mounted atop a modified 747 commercial airliner, and verified the systems required for separation. The first free flight of the Orbiter occurred on August 12, 1977 and was manned by astronauts Fred Haise and Gordon Fullerton. Free flight two occurred on September 13, 1977, with astronauts Joe Engle and Richard Truly flying the Orbiter. Three other flights were eventually flown with the two crews alternating flights.
The preparations for the flight, the engineering problems and considerations which arose before and during the flights, and the unique approach to the flight testing are discussed in this paper. Some comparisons of predicted and flight results are presented, and excerpts from the pilot reports highlight the paper.