View source for Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

{{Short description|Modified Boeing 747 airliners used to transport Space Shuttle orbiters}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name                     = Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
| image                    = NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 905 (front) and 911 (rear).jpg
| image_size               = 
| alt                      = 
| image_caption            = NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 905 (front) and 911 (back) flying in formation in 2011
| long_caption             = 
| other_names              = 
| aircraft_type            = 
| aircraft_role            = 
| national_origin          = {{USA}}
| manufacturer             = [[Boeing]]
| design_group             = 
| designer                 = 
| builder                  = 
| issuer                   = 
| owners                   = {{Unbulleted list
   | '''905''':
   | {{in5|3}} 1970–1974: [[American Airlines]]
   | {{in5|3}} 1974–2011: [[NASA]]
   | '''911''':
   | {{in5|3}} 1973–1988: [[Japan Airlines]]
   | {{in5|3}} 1988–2011: [[NASA]]
   }}
| service                  = 
| major_applications       = 
| proposals                = 
| prototypes               = 
| number_built             = 2
| civil_registration       = {{Airreg|N|905NA}}, {{Airreg|N|911NA}}
| military_serial          = 
| radio_code               = 
| requirement              = 
| aircraft_carried         = [[Space Shuttle orbiter|Space Shuttle]], [[Phantom Ray]]
| flights                  = 
| total_hours              = 
| total_distance           = 
| construction_date        = 
| introduction             = 
| first_flight             = 
| first_run                = 
| initiated                = 
| developed_from           = {{Unbulleted list
   | '''905''': [[Boeing 747#747-100|Boeing 747-100]]
   | '''911''': [[Boeing 747#747SR|Boeing 747-100SR]]
   }}
| in_service               = 
| last_flight              = 
| retired                  = 2012
| concluded                = 
| developed_into           = 
| preservation             = {{Unbulleted list
   | '''905''': [[Space Center Houston]]
   | '''911''': [[Joe Davies Heritage Airpark]], [[Palmdale, California]]
   }}
| fate                     = Both aircraft preserved
| predecessors             = 
| successors               = 
| related                  = 
}}

The '''Shuttle Carrier Aircraft''' ('''SCA''') are two extensively modified [[Boeing 747]] airliners that [[NASA]] used to transport [[Space Shuttle orbiter]]s. One (N905NA) is a 747-100 model, while the other (N911NA) is a short-range 747-100SR. Both are now retired.

The SCAs were used to ferry Space Shuttles from landing sites back to the [[Shuttle Landing Facility]] at the [[Kennedy Space Center]]. The orbiters were placed on top of the SCAs by [[Mate-Demate Device]]s, large [[Gantry crane|gantry]]-like structures that hoisted the orbiters off the ground for post-flight servicing then mated them with the SCAs for ferry flights.

In [[approach and landing tests|approach and landing test flights]] conducted in 1977, the [[Space Shuttle Enterprise|test shuttle ''Enterprise'']] was released from an SCA during flight and glided to a landing under its own control.

== Design and development ==
The [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy]] was considered for the shuttle-carrier role by NASA but rejected in favor of the 747. This was due to the 747's low-wing design in comparison to the C-5's high-wing design, and also because the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] would have retained ownership of the C-5, while NASA could own the 747s outright.  Lockheed had also proposed a heavily modified twin body C-5, to counter the [[Conroy Virtus]] concept.

[[File:Shuttle Enterprise at Ellington Airfield 1978 4.jpg|thumb|left|Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA, still in [[American Airlines]] livery, with ''Enterprise'' in 1978]]

The first aircraft, a Boeing 747-123 registered N905NA, was originally manufactured for [[American Airlines]]. With a decline in air traffic and failure to fill their 747s, American Airlines sold it to NASA. It still wore the visible American [[cheatline]]s while testing ''Enterprise'' in the 1970s. It was acquired in 1974 and initially used for trailing wake vortex research as part of a broader study by [[Dryden Flight Research Center|NASA Dryden]], as well as Shuttle tests involving an [[F-104 Starfighter|F-104]] flying in close formation and simulating a release from the 747.

The aircraft was extensively modified for NASA by Boeing in 1976.<ref name="Jenkins_2000_p36">{{cite book |last = Jenkins |first = Dennis R. |title = Boeing 747-100/200/300/SP |series = AirlinerTech Series |volume = 6 |publisher = Specialty Press |year = 2000 |isbn = 1-58007-026-4 |pages = 36–38 }}</ref> While first-class seats were kept for NASA passengers, its main cabin and insulation were stripped,{{r|brack20120917}} and the fuselage was strengthened. Mounting struts were added on top of the 747, located to match the fittings on the Shuttle that attach it to the external fuel tank for launch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How was Enterprise held/released from the carrier 747 for the Shuttle approach and landing tests? |url=https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/25684/how-was-enterprise-held-released-from-the-carrier-747-for-the-shuttle-approach-a |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Space Exploration Stack Exchange}}</ref> With the Shuttle riding on top, the center of gravity was altered. Vertical stabilizers were added to the tail to improve stability when the Orbiter was being carried. The [[avionics]] and engines were also upgraded.

An internal escape slide was added behind the flight deck<ref name=ALTfinalreport>{{cite book |author = Approach and Landing Test Evaluation Team  |date = February 1978 |title = Space Shuttle Orbiter Approach and Landing Test: Final Evaluation Report |url = https://www.klabs.org/DEI/References/general/alt_final_report.pdf |location = Houston |publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center |access-date = April 21, 2020 }}</ref> in case of catastrophic failure mid-flight. In the event of a bail-out, explosives would be detonated to make an opening in the fuselage at the bottom of the slide, allowing the crew to exit through the slide and parachute to the ground. The slide system was removed following the Approach and Landing Tests because of concerns over the possibility of escaping crew members being ingested into an engine.<ref>{{Cite press release |last = Creech |first = Gray |date = August 22, 2003 |url = https://www.nasa.gov/news/special/747_Shuttle_Carriers.html |title = Gravel Haulers: NASA's 747 Shuttle Carriers |publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration |language = en |access-date = April 20, 2020 |archive-date = September 25, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200925170921/https://www.nasa.gov/news/special/747_Shuttle_Carriers.html |url-status = dead }}</ref>

Flying with the additional drag and weight of the Orbiter imposed significant fuel and altitude penalties. The range was reduced to {{convert|1000|nmi}}, compared to an unladen range of {{convert|5500|nmi}}, requiring an SCA to stop several times to refuel on a transcontinental flight.<ref name="Jenkins_2000_p38">{{harvp|Jenkins|2000|pp=38–39}}.</ref> Without the Orbiter, the SCA needed to carry [[ballast]] to balance its center of gravity.<ref name="brack20120917">{{cite web |url = https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2012/09/17/inside-the-space-shuttle-carrier-aircraft/ |title = Inside the Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft |work = National Geographic |date = September 17, 2012 |access-date = September 17, 2012 |last = Brack |first = Jon |archive-date = July 31, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190731052223/https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2012/09/17/inside-the-space-shuttle-carrier-aircraft/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> The SCA had an altitude ceiling of {{convert|15000|ft|||}} and a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.6 with the orbiter attached.<ref name="Jenkins_2000_p38" /> A crew of 170 took a week to prepare the shuttle and SCA for flight.<ref name="slate">{{cite web |first = Felix |last = Gilette |url = https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2005/08/how-the-space-shuttle-flies-home.html |title = How the Space Shuttle Flies Home |date = August 9, 2005 |work = Slate |access-date = June 1, 2019 }}</ref>
Studies were conducted to equip the SCA with [[aerial refueling]] equipment, a modification already made to the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] [[Boeing E-4|E-4]] (modified 747-200s) and 747 tanker transports for the [[Air force history of Iran|IIAF]]. However, during formation flying with a tanker aircraft to test refueling approaches, minor cracks were spotted on the tailfin of N905NA. While these were not likely to have been caused by the test flights, it was felt that there was no sense taking unnecessary risks.  Since there was no urgent need to provide an aerial refueling capacity, the tests were suspended.[[File:Atlantis on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.jpg|thumb|[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|''Atlantis'']] atop Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA after being repainted with NASA livery in 1998]]By 1983, SCA N905NA no longer carried the distinct American Airlines tricolor [[cheatline]]. NASA replaced it with its own livery, consisting of a white fuselage and a single blue cheatline.<ref>Comparison of photos taken in [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=%3Dboeing%5C+747*&airlinesearch=NASA&countrysearch=&specialsearch=&daterange=1982&keywords=&range=&sort_order=datestamp+desc&page_limit=15&thumbnails=&searchSubmit=Searching%2C+please+wait... 1982] and [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=%3Dboeing%5C+747*&airlinesearch=NASA&countrysearch=&specialsearch=&daterange=1983&keywords=&range=&sort_order=datestamp+desc&page_limit=15&thumbnails=&searchSubmit=Searching%2C+please+wait... 1983] at [[Airliners.net]]</ref> That year, after secretly being fitted with an [[infrared countermeasure]]s system to protect it from [[heat-seeking missile]]s,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rogoway|first=Joseph Trevithick and Tyler|title=Space Shuttle Carrying 747 Was Secretly Modified To Defend Itself From Heat-Seeking Missiles (Updated)|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43681/space-shuttle-carrying-747-was-secretly-modified-to-defend-itself-from-heat-seeking-missiles|access-date=2022-01-29|website=The Drive|date=January 27, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> it was also used to fly ''Enterprise'' on a tour in Europe, with refueling stops in [[Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador|Goose Bay]], Canada; [[Keflavik, Iceland]]; England; and West Germany. It then went to the [[Paris Air Show]].<ref name="slate" />

[[File:SCA and Endeavour at Ellington Field, 1991.jpg|left|thumb|Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N911NA, shortly after purchase, with newly built shuttle ''Endeavour'' in 1991.]]

In 1988, in the wake of the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' accident]], NASA procured a surplus 747SR-46 from [[Japan Airlines]].  Registered N911NA, it entered service with NASA in 1990 after undergoing modifications similar to N905NA. It was first used in 1991 to ferry the new shuttle [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] from the manufacturers in [[Palmdale, California]] to [[Kennedy Space Center]].

Based at the [[Dryden Flight Research Center]] within [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in California{{r|brack20120917}} the two aircraft were functionally identical, although N911NA has five upper-deck windows on each side, while N905NA has only two.

[[File:Shuttle mounting point.JPG|thumb|Humorous note on mount reminding technicians how to connect the orbiter to the SCA]]

The rear mounting points on both aircraft were labeled with humorous instructions to "attach orbiter here" or "place orbiter here", clarified by the precautionary note "black side down".<ref>[http://edwards.airshowjournal.com/2003/ 2003 Edwards Air Force Base Air Show], see Shuttle Carrier images.</ref><ref>[http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b363/ASFalcon13/Shuttle%20Carrier%20Aircraft%20N911NA/ Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N911NA album on Photobucket]</ref>

Shuttle Carriers were capable of operating from [[Space Shuttle abort modes|alternative shuttle landing sites]] such as those in the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. Because Shuttle Carrier's range is reduced while mated to an orbiter, additional preparations such as removal of the payload from the orbiter may have been necessary to reduce its weight.<ref name="FS-2006-01-004-KSC">{{cite web |url = http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/pdf/167472main_TALsites-06.pdf |title = Space Shuttle Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) Sites |date = December 2006 |publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration |access-date = July 1, 2009 |archive-date = February 25, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100225085509/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/pdf/167472main_TALsites-06.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[Boeing]] transported its [[Boeing Phantom Ray|Phantom Ray]] [[unmanned combat aerial vehicle]] (UCAV) demonstrator from St. Louis, Missouri, to Edwards on a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on December 11, 2010.<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2010/12/03/boeing-phantom-ray-to-catch-shuttle-ride.html Boeing Phantom Ray to catch shuttle ride at Lambert]</ref>

== Approach and Landing Tests ==
[[File:OV-101 first flight.jpg|thumb|[[Space Shuttle Enterprise|Space Shuttle ''Enterprise'']] detaches from Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA during ALT-13]]

{{Main|Approach and Landing Tests}}

The [[Approach and Landing Tests]] were a series of taxi and flight trials of the prototype [[Space Shuttle Enterprise|Space Shuttle ''Enterprise'']], conducted at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in 1977. They verified the shuttle's flight characteristics when mated to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and when flying on its own, prior to the Shuttle system becoming operational. There were three taxi tests, eight captive flight tests and five free flight tests where the ''Enterprise'' was released from the SCA during flight and glided to a landing under its own control.<ref name=ALTfinalreport /><ref name="ff">{{cite web |url = http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000218.html |title = Shuttle Enterprise Free Flight |access-date = November 28, 2007 |publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration |year = 1977 |author = NASA Dryden Flight Research Center |id = ECN-8607 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130307094536/http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000218.html |archive-date = March 7, 2013 }}</ref>

== Ferry flights ==
{{Further|List of Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flights}}

[[File:Shuttle mate demate facility.jpg|thumb|[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|''Atlantis'']] being mated to Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N911NA using the [[Mate-Demate Device]]]]

During the decades of Shuttle operations, the SCAs were most often used to transport the orbiters from [[Edwards Air Force Base]], the shuttle's secondary landing site, to the [[Shuttle Landing Facility]] (SLF) at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] where the orbiter was processed for another launch. The SCAs were also used to transport the orbiters between manufacturer [[Rockwell International]] and NASA during initial delivery and mid-life refits.<ref name="chron">{{cite web |title = STS Chronology |url = http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/sts-cron.html |publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration }}</ref>

At the end of the Space Shuttle program the SCA was used to deliver the retired orbiters from the Kennedy Space Center to their museums.

''Discovery'' was flown to the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center|Udvar-Hazy Center]] of the [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[National Air and Space Museum]] at the [[Dulles International Airport]] on April 17, 2012, making low-level passes over Washington, D.C. landmarks before landing. ''Enterprise'', which had been on display at the Smithsonian was transported to the [[Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum]] in New York City on April 27, 2012, making low-level passes over the city's landmarks, before landing at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]], where it was transferred by barge to the museum.

The last ferry flight took [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] from Kennedy Space Center to Los Angeles between September 19 and 21, 2012 with refueling stops at [[Ellington Field]] and Edwards Air Force Base. After leaving Edwards the SCA with ''Endeavour'' performed low level flyovers above various landmarks across California, from [[Sacramento]] to the San Francisco Bay Area, before finally being delivered to [[Los Angeles International Airport]] (LAX). From there the orbiter was transported through the streets of Los Angeles and [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]] to its final destination, the [[California Science Center]] in [[Exposition Park (Los Angeles)|Exposition Park]].

== Retirement ==
[[File:Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N911NA on display in Palmdale, California in June 2015.jpg|thumb|N911NA sits on display at the [[Joe Davies Heritage Airpark]] in Palmdale, California, in June 2015]]

Shuttle Carrier N911NA was retired on February 8, 2012, after its final mission to the Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, California, and was used as a source of parts for NASA's [[Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy]] (SOFIA) aircraft, another modified Boeing 747.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/sca_911_final_flight.html |title=NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 911's Final Flight |access-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622185515/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/sca_911_final_flight.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> N911NA is now preserved and on display at the [[Joe Davies Heritage Airpark]] in Palmdale, California as part of a long-term loan to the city from NASA.<ref>{{Cite press release |url = https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/features/SCA_911.html |title = Final Journey: SCA 911 on Display at Davies Airpark |last = Gibbs |first = Yvonne |date = September 12, 2014 |publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration |access-date = June 15, 2018 |language = en |archive-date = June 10, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160610094039/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/features/SCA_911.html |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html |title = NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Shuttle Carrier Aircraft |last = Gibbs |first = Yvonne |date = September 24, 2014 |publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration |access-date = June 15, 2018 |language = en }}</ref>

[[File:Shuttle Independence and NASA 905 at Space Center Houston.jpg|thumb|N905NA on display with mockup [[Space Shuttle Independence|Space Shuttle ''Independence'']] at [[Space Center Houston]]]]

Shuttle Carrier {{Anchor|N905NA}}N905NA was used to ferry the retired Space Shuttles to their respective museums. After delivering ''Endeavour'' to the Los Angeles International Airport in September 2012, the aircraft was flown to the Dryden Flight Research Facility, where NASA intended it to join N911NA as a source of spare parts for NASA's SOFIA aircraft,<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/images/content/636738main_ED12-0096-02.jpg |title = A graphic history of 35 years of Space Shuttle ferry flights now adorns the upper forward fuselage of NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 905 |publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration |first = Tony |last = Landis |access-date = April 18, 2012 |archive-date = July 25, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120725053424/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/images/content/636738main_ED12-0096-02.jpg |url-status = dead }}</ref> but when NASA engineers surveyed N905NA they determined that it had few parts usable for SOFIA. In 2013, a decision was made to preserve N905NA and display it at [[Space Center Houston]] with the mockup [[Space Shuttle Independence|Space Shuttle ''Independence'']] mounted on its back.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-news/houstons-shuttle-gets-new-name-familiar-ride/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131009082126/http://spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-news/houstons-shuttle-gets-new-name-familiar-ride/ |url-status = dead |archive-date = October 9, 2013 |title = Houston's Shuttle Gets New Name, Familiar Ride |work = Spaceflight Insider |date = October 8, 2013 }}</ref> N905NA was flown to [[Ellington Field]] where it was carefully dismantled, ferried to the [[Johnson Space Center]] in seven major pieces (a process called The Big Move), reassembled, and finally mated with the replica shuttle in August 2014.<ref>{{cite news |work = SpaceDaily |url = https://www.space-travel.com/reports/Shuttle_replica_lifted_and_put_on_top_of_747_carrier_999.html |title = Shuttle replica lifted and put on top of 747 carrier |first = Brooks |last = Hays |agency = United Press International |date = August 14, 2014 }}</ref> The display, called Independence Plaza, opened to the public for the first time on January 23, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Seeing Is Believing: Enormous Shuttle Program Artifact Inspires Wonder|first=Calla |last=Cofield |date=January 29, 2016|url=https://www.space.com/31776-independence-plaza-nasa-exhibit-awesomely-wonderful.html|publisher=Space.com|access-date=December 20, 2022}}</ref>

== Specifications ==
[[File:Shuttle Carrier Aircraft diagram.svg|300px|right|SCA 3-view schematic]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Boeing 747-100 specifications,<ref>[https://www.boeing.com/commercial/747family/pf/pf_classics.html#100 Boeing 747-100 Technical Specifications], Boeing</ref> Jenkins 2000<ref name="Jenkins_2000_p38" />
|prime units?=kts
|crew= Four: two pilots, two flight engineers (one flight engineer when not carrying Shuttle)
|capacity= {{cvt|108,999.6|kg|lb|0}} payload (externally-mounted Orbiter)
|length ft=231
|length in=4
|length note=
|span ft=195
|span in=8
|span note=
|height ft=63
|height in=5
|height note=
|wing area sqft=5500
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=<!--'''root:''' BAC 463 to BAC 468; '''tip:''' BAC 469 to BAC 474<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1 = Lednicer |first1 = David |title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url = https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website = m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date = April 16, 2019 }}</ref>-->
|empty weight lb=318000
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=710000
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=4
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7J]]
|eng1 type=[[turbofan]] engines
|eng1 lbf=50000
|eng1 note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kts=250
|cruise speed note= / M0.6 with Shuttle Orbiter loaded
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range nmi=1150
|range note=with Shuttle Orbiter loaded
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=15000
|ceiling note=with Shuttle Orbiter loaded
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=<!--
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}-->

|avionics=
}}

== See also ==
{{Aircontent
|see also=
* {{annotated link|Airborne aircraft carrier}}
|similar aircraft=
* {{annotated link|Antonov An-225 Mriya}} <!-- used to transport the Soviet [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] shuttles -->
* {{annotated link|Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy}}
* {{annotated link|Conroy Virtus}}
* {{annotated link|Myasishchev VM-T}}
|lists=
* [[List of Boeing 747 operators]]
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last = Jenkins |first = Dennis R. |title = Space Shuttle: The History of the National Space Transportation System, The First 100 Missions |edition = 3rd |publisher = Midland Publishing |year = 2001 |isbn = 0-9633974-5-1 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html NASA fact sheet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106024137/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html |date=January 6, 2021 }}
*[http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/STS-Ferry/Medium/index.html NASA SCA images] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224143604/http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/STS-Ferry/Medium/index.html |date=February 24, 2021 }}
*[http://airspeed.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=175204 Interview with SCA Pilot and Former Astronaut Gordon Fullerton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722201757/http://airspeed.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=175204 |date=July 22, 2011 }}
*[http://airspeed.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=170381 Interview with SCA Crew Chief Pete Seidl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722201818/http://airspeed.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=170381 |date=July 22, 2011 }}
*{{YouTube|NjPO8k2r-ks|"Hoot Gibson talks about John Kiker's 747 ferry model"}}
*{{HAER |survey=TX-116-L |id=tx1165 |title=Space Transportation System, Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX |photos=8 |color=3 |cap=3}}

{{Boeing 747 family}}
{{Space Shuttle}}
{{Outsized cargo aircraft}}
{{Space Shuttle Enterprise}}

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