Enterprise in the Test Stand

Aerial view of Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise being hoisted into the Dynamic Test Stand at Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Ala., for the mated vertical ground vibration test. The test marked the first time ever that the entire Space Shuttle elements, an orbiter, an external tank (ET), and two solid rocket boosters (SRB), were mated together. Purpose of the vibration tests was to verify that the Space Shuttle performed its launch configuration as predicted.

Oct. 4, 1978
Photo credit: NASA