flee the cities
space shuttle pathfinder
The Shuttle Pathfinder has an interesting story behind it. The unit was built of steel and wood in 1977 and was never intended to fly (nor was it even named)--rather, it was built to approximately the same size, shape, and weight that the real orbiters would be so that it could be used to check handling characteristics on cranes and how it fit within structures.
In the early 1980s it was purchased by a Japanese company and refurbished to look more like an actual orbiter. Only then was it given the name Pathfinder. It was on display in Tokyo in 1983-84.
Pathfinder was returned to the US after the exhibition in Japan. In the mid-80s the US Space & Rocket Center has already acquired and mounted a pair of Advanced Solid Rocket Boosters to the MPTA-ET (external tank mock-up), but didn't have an orbiter to complete the exhibit. Finally in 1988 the Pathfinder was lifted into place atop the external tank.
The aircraft to the right is a T-38 jet trainer, which is used by NASA as a chase plane.
1. Space Shuttle Pathfinder at Wikipedia
2. Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster at Wikipedia
5. Northrop T-38 Talon at Wikipedia
US Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville, Alabama
space shuttle pathfinder
The Shuttle Pathfinder has an interesting story behind it. The unit was built of steel and wood in 1977 and was never intended to fly (nor was it even named)--rather, it was built to approximately the same size, shape, and weight that the real orbiters would be so that it could be used to check handling characteristics on cranes and how it fit within structures.
In the early 1980s it was purchased by a Japanese company and refurbished to look more like an actual orbiter. Only then was it given the name Pathfinder. It was on display in Tokyo in 1983-84.
Pathfinder was returned to the US after the exhibition in Japan. In the mid-80s the US Space & Rocket Center has already acquired and mounted a pair of Advanced Solid Rocket Boosters to the MPTA-ET (external tank mock-up), but didn't have an orbiter to complete the exhibit. Finally in 1988 the Pathfinder was lifted into place atop the external tank.
The aircraft to the right is a T-38 jet trainer, which is used by NASA as a chase plane.
1. Space Shuttle Pathfinder at Wikipedia
2. Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster at Wikipedia
5. Northrop T-38 Talon at Wikipedia
US Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville, Alabama