Orbiter Vehicle Designation - Orbiter Designations

Orbiter Designations

• OV-099 - Space Shuttle Challenger, originally STA-099
• OV-101 - Space Shuttle Enterprise
• OV-102 - Space Shuttle Columbia
• OV-103 - Space Shuttle Discovery
• OV-104 - Space Shuttle Atlantis
• OV-105 - Space Shuttle Endeavour

Challenger was originally intended to be used as a Structural Test Article, rather than a flight-capable orbiter; as such, the numbering was changed when she was rebuilt. Enterprise, on the other hand, was intended to be rebuilt into a flight-capable orbiter; it was found to be cheaper to rebuild STA-099 than OV-101, so she remained unflown. The designations were not altered, despite these changes in plans.

Note that while Pathfinder is referred to as OV-098, she should not be confused with MPTA-098 - the Main Propulsion Test Article, a steel frame (looking nothing like an Orbiter) used to test the Space Shuttle Main Engines. Pathfinder was originally a "fit check" unit, a simple mockup resembling the production Orbiters in size, shape and weight, intended to be used to ensure that ground handling facilities would be sized to handle Orbiters. She was later rebuilt to resemble them cosmetically, and is currently on display with the external tank used during the propulsion tests (designated MPTA-ET). To further add to the confusion, it appears that Pathfinder was never formally numbered, and the OV-098 designation is both unofficial and retroactive. MPTA-098 was later rebuilt into the Shuttle-C mockup during the 1990s; it is currently in storage at the Stennis Space Center.

In keeping with this theme, other pieces of ground hardware used by the Space Shuttle program have been given OV-xxx designations; these include:

• OV-095 - a mockup in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) at Johnson Space Center.
• MPTA-098 - the Main Propulsion Test Article, as above
• OV-106 - an administrative name given to the set of structural components manufactured to replace those used in the construction of Endeavour; however, the contract for these was cancelled shortly afterwards, and they were never completed.

Additionally, two structural mockups have been given unofficial and honorary OV-xxx designations:

• OV-098 - Space Shuttle Pathfinder, a mockup in Huntsville, AL
• OV-100 - Space Shuttle Explorer, a mockup in Houston, TX