[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Names / Dates...

gandalf@pro-canaveral.cts.com (Ken Hollis) (10/24/90)

Greetings and Salutations:

> I need to know how many shuttles there are and the names of them,
> and if possible the dates of manufacture.

NASA

ID      Name        Date Of Rollout
??      Pathfinder  - (Engineering Test Platform)
OV-101  Enterprise  Sept. 17, 1976
OV-102  Columbia    March 8, 1979 (Rollout To Dryden)
         Named After A Sailing Frigate Launched in 1836, one of the Navy's
first ships to circumnavigate the globe.  Also Apollo 11 command module, man's
first landing on the moon.
OV-99   Challenger  July 5, 1982 (Delivery To Kennedy Space Center)
         Also named after a navy ship from 1872 to 1876 that made prolonged
explorations of the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans.  Also the Apollo 17 lunar
module.
OV-103  Discovery   November 9, 1983 (Delivery To Kennedy Space Center)
         The vessel that Henry Hudson in 1610 - 1611 attempted to find a
northwest passage between the Pacific & Atlantic.  The ship Captain Cook
discovered the Hawaiian Islands & explored southern Alaska & western Canada.
OV-104  Atlantis    April 3, 1985 (Delivery To Kennedy Space Center)
         A tow-masted ketch operated for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
from 1930 to 1966.
OV-105  Endeavour   Projected Delivery, 1991.

The names are chosen from previous "Famous" exploration ships.  Endeavour
(notice the British version of spelling) was chosen from many names (and
reasons for the names) by students across America.  I am sure someone out
there can remember which reason this ship was famous (Something about who
sailed around the Cape Horn???)

Ken Hollis

ProLine:  gandalf@pro-canaveral         
Internet: gandalf@pro-canaveral.cts.com
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phacb@research.cc.flinders.oz (A.C.Beresford) (10/24/90)

the Endevour was the ship Cook & crew sailed in to Tahiti,
to observe the transit of Venus, and find the East Coast
of Australia. I understand it was a converted coal freighter
and thus more seaworthy with a large cargo of supplies than
using a regular navy ship of the time. ( 1770