747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) mating with Endeavor

This 43 second movie clip shows the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) mating with Space Shuttle Endeavour in the Mate-Demate Device (MDD).

NASA uses two modified Boeing 747 jetliners, originally manufactured for commercial use, as Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). One is a 747-100 model, while the other is designated a 747-100SR (short range). The two aircraft are identical in appearance and in their performance as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• nasa
• space
• shuttle
• endeavor
• 747
• MDD
• SCA

[Vairminator]

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

[Jabbajawz4life]

why are they mating?

[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

[antidiz]

@Jabbajawz4life  Why not...

[antidiz]

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

[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?

[Amar7605]

@antidiz LOL so true!!!

[antidiz]

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

[antidiz]

@Jabbajawz4life  Because they're in love..

[Asuchord]

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

[Vekoma1261]

Forced mating is the best =)

[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.