yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (11/22/90)
[Once again delayed by my travels. Query to the readers of this newsgroup:
When I'm unable to post for a period of time, do you wish me to post back
issues, or just place them in the archives and let interested parties retrieve
them from there? -PEY]
Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. November 16, 1990
(Phone: 202/453-4164)
Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone: 713/483-5111)
EDITORS NOTE: N90-90
SHUTTLE CARRIER AIRCRAFT DELIVERY CEREMONY SCHEDULED
NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, will take delivery of
the second Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), at Boeing Military
Airplanes facilities in Wichita, Kan., on Tuesday, November 20.
Following delivery ceremonies in Wichita, the SCA will be
flown to Ellington Field in Houston, Hangar 990, for a 1:30 p.m.
EST ceremony. News media are invited to attend the ceremony and
to tour the aircraft escorted by members of the flight crew.
Boeing Military Airplanes will provide video tapes of the
refurbishing process. A CSA fact sheet is available.
SHUTTLE CARRIER AIRCRAFT (SCA)FACT SHEET
NASA 911 - BOEING 747-100SR
Aircraft Type: The SCA is a highly modified Boeing 747-100SR
aircraft which is capable of ferrying the Shuttle Orbiters.
Description: The Boeing 747 SCA is a heavy wide-bodied swept
wing turbo jet which is powered by four Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7J
engines. Some features which distinguish this aircraft from a
standard Boeing 747 are:
1. Three struts with associated interior structural beef-up
protruding from the top of the fuselage (2 aft, 1 forward) for
mating the orbiter.
2. Two additional vertical stabilizers, one on each end of
the standard horizontal stabilizer to enhance directional
stability.
3. Removal of all interior furnishings and equipment aft of
the forward number one doors.
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 195 feet 8 inches
Length: 231 feet 10 inches
Height to top of vertical stabilizer: 63 feet 5 inches
Height to top of cockpit area: 32 feet 1 inch
Weight: Maximum taxi weight: 713,000 pounds
Maximum brake release weight: 710,000 pounds
Maximum landing weight: 600,000 pounds
Maximum zero-fuel weight: orbiter variable
Airspeed Limits: 250 KIAS or 0.6 Mach number
Altitude: Maximum mated 15oF (-9oC) or 8 psi ambient pressure
Typical cruise mated: 13,000-15,000 ft MSL
Typical cruise unmated: 24,000-26,000 ft MSL
Range: Typical mated: 1000 N.M. (with reserves)
Maximum unmated: 5500 N.M.
Fuel: 47,210 gallons or 316,307 pounds of jet fuel
Crew: Minimum for flight: two pilots and one flight engineer
Minimum mated: two pilots and two flight engineers
Ground Support Equipment: None required