On September 17, 1976, NASA officially presented its first space shuttle orbiter, designated OV-101. The rollout ceremony took place at the Rockwell facility in Palmdale, California, coinciding with the bicentennial Constitution Day of the United States.
The shuttle was originally intended to be named Constitution. However, a campaign involving nearly 100 000 Star Trek fans prompted President Gerald Ford to intervene. Following the president's directive, the vehicle was named Enterprise after the fictional starship from the television series.
The event was attended by hundreds of guests, including Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and several cast members such as Leonard Nimoy and Nichelle Nichols. NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher also participated in the ceremony.
Although the Enterprise was not built for spaceflight, it conducted critical atmospheric tests. These trials were essential for the development of the shuttle program, which launched its first space mission in 1981. Currently, the orbiter is exhibited at the Intrepid Museum in New York City.
