747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) mating with Endeavor

[antidiz]

I wonder if the plane turns upside down, will the shuttle fall off or will it stay there like it does when it's sitting on the external tank?

[Asuchord]

That has got to be one unstable thing to fly... Probably takes a ton of talent.

[ILSRWY4]

@Asuchord Actually it is very stable. The shuttle's wings also produces lift while flying on top of the 747. What it does do though, is product a lot of drag- parasitic and induced. And so they have to use a lot more power and burn a lot more fuel...thus making fuels stops on its trip back to KCS.

Ref. Source: "Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System The First 100 Missions" by Dennis R. Jenkins

[Vekoma1261]

Forced mating is the best =)

[00Billy]

hope they dont forget the pitot tube covers...lol

[urashimakeitaro22]

I thought it was like jumbo and shuttle f*cking...

[Fiinniinnii]

how long it takes to get this on 747???

[mach25man]

It takes about a week of deservicing and tail cone installation before the orbiter is put on. The actual installation on top of the 747 takes less than 24 hours.

[Fiinniinnii]

cool thanks for info(;

[Speedster159]

@mach25man What is the tail cone for?

[mach25man]

Aerodynamics. The cone provides a smoother air flow for the 747 rudder and gives it a higher margin of control for the piggy back rides back to Florida. At the same times adds a little protection for the orbiter engine nozzles.

[Amar7605]

@mach25man What makes it take 24 hours to get the mounting done?

[aimhigh59]

@Amar7605 It takes about a week to deservice the orbiter, close it up, put the tailcone on and mate it to the 747. The mating is done in the last day. Hoist it up high enough, pull the 747 underneath and bolt it down. Off to Florida. Not saying it takes exactly 24hrs. Its just done last and takes 2 or 3 shifts to do it.

[Amar7605]

@aimhigh59 I understand the deservicing part. You want to defuel the shuttle and secure the electricials so that the shuttle isn't a fire hazard. But the shuttle isn't electrically connected to the 747. To me, it seems like a simple mounting. I would think that it should take no more than 2 or 3 hours.

[aimhigh59]

@Amar7605 Well, there is weight & balance of the orbiter then weight & balance of the 747 with the orbiter on top (number crunching), ballast that has to go in the orbiter, ballast in the 747, positioning of the 747. All that takes time. I'm sure the bolt torqueing takes 5 min. There are always problems encountered, weather, shift changes, hazardous clears etc. Anyhow everything combined to round it off takes apprx. 24hrs.

[antidiz]

@Amar7605 Because that is a big bitch to mount..

[Amar7605]

@antidiz LOL so true!!!

[jamf4s]

Thanks. I've seen it on top but never knew how they put it there.

[birudagmawi1]

Whooo! lets make some mutated JumboGliders!

[jamesspatig]

the aircraft is sometimes used for high altitude seperations

[thomashm9]

can they not just drive it across the country on the truck?

[runescapecat454]

way to huge

[tillj005]

u stupid its way to big

[antidiz]

@thomashm9 Not unless you want to see every road and bridge destroyed..

[John19182004]

it's spelled ENDEAVOUR.. might want to change that!

[Jabbajawz4life]

why are they mating?

[Vairminator]

To make little aircraft. Or to transport the shuttle back to Florida to prep for the next launch. One of the two.

[tillj005]

fun?

[antidiz]

@Jabbajawz4life Because they're in love..

[antidiz]

@Jabbajawz4life Why not...