The Space Shuttle Enterprise, now residing in the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. This craft never made it into orbit, but was used for atmospheric and landing tests. Plus it was named Enterprise, thus making it awesome.
April 15th, 2010 on 8:17 pm
NASA spent a bazillion dollars building a space shuttle that DIDN’T EVEN GO INTO SPACE???
April 15th, 2010 on 8:22 pm
It was never a complete shuttle. For instance it never had engines, or thermal paneling. So it never could have launched, and if somehow it did, it would have burned up in reentry.
Also after testing, many of its parts were taken and used in other space shuttles that DID go into space.
They also considered using it as a replacement for the Challenger, but it ended up being cheaper to build a new one than retrofit this one, and thus was born Endeavour.
Don’t know if that makes you feel any better, but I tried.
April 16th, 2010 on 2:28 pm
A little bit, I guess. You have to spend money to make — wait. NASA doesn’t make money. Dammit. What is science FOR, anyway??
April 16th, 2010 on 2:37 pm
To boldly go where no one has gone before.
April 16th, 2010 on 5:09 pm
How did I know your answer would involve Star Trek?