rjnoe@uniq.UUCP (10/28/87)
In article <6629@ut-ngp.UUCP>, jcc@ut-ngp.UUCP (William Riker) writes: > In article <477@netxcom.UUCP>, rkolker@netxcom.UUCP (rich kolker) writes: > > . . . . But the first shuttle orbiter was to be named > > "Constitution" before the fans intervened, and NASA acknowleged this by > > rolling out Enterprise to the theme from Star Trek with the cast and > > Roddenberry present. > > Wrong, slightly. > > According to Jimmy Doohan, NASA had had Star Trek fans in mind all along. > He tells of plans to name the first, NON-OPERATIONAL shuttle Constitution > because NASA knew that it would never leave the atmosphere. > > They had planned on calling the second shuttle, the first ever SPACE > SHIP, the Enterprise, and giving it all the glory. Because of fans, > whose intentions were sincere (our intentions, that is), the first space > ship is the Challenger (I think--I get the names mixed up). > --chris Yes, Chris, you do seem to have a few things mixed up here. I don't know why Doohan would have said such things. I don't even remember him doing very much about this back then, so I don't know how he would have gotten this story. I was very aware of that campaign as it was happening although I did not take an active part in it. (I then and now prefer the name "Constitution" for one of the shuttle orbiter vehicles; perhaps the school children will go in this direction for OV-105.) The story I heard was straight from some of the Trek fans organizing support for the name change. Here's what I remember: NASA planned to name the first one Constitution, rejecting a direct appeal from Trek fans. Trekkers, not being unaccustomed to publicity battles, appealed directly to the President, who convinced the NASA Administrator to change the name to Enterprise. (Reportedly, many people at NASA still dislike organized Trek fandom because of these events.) Publicly, NASA had every intention of making this orbiter vehicle (OV-101) the first operational shuttle. I think it was back during the approach and landing tests (ALT) that they announced a change, that Columbia would be the first to orbit (no, it wasn't Challenger, either) and that Enterprise would be relegated entirely to ALT, launch complex fit tests, and finally a museum piece. Maybe it was sooner they announced this, but it was NOT at the Enterprise rollout in Palmdale. I do have some blank spots in my memory around then because of heavy partying, but I distinctly remember talking with people about when Enterprise would fly (and I don't mean glide). Unless NASA intentionally deceived Trek fans and the general public, this is probably what really happened. I think it very unlikely that NASA would have done such a thing; more probable is a lack of funding which prompted a change in plans. In any event, I have never heard of any NASA plans to name any of the shuttle orbiters Enterprise before Star Trek fans started speaking up. This is being cross-posted to sci.space.shuttle, with follow-ups directed back here to rec.arts.startrek. Perhaps someone with a better memory than mine can tell us what happened from NASA's point of view. -- long tloc = 507314353L; Roger Noe ihnp4!uniq!rjnoe Uniq Digital Technologies +1 312 879 1566 Batavia, Illinois 60510 41:50:56 N. 88:18:35 W.