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Fit Check Tile Orbiter: OV-099 Challenger   Comment: First called STA-099, Challenger was built to serve as a test vehicle for the space shuttle program. In early 1979, NASA awarded shuttle orbiter manufacturer Rockwell a contract to convert STA-099 to a space-rated orbiter, OV-099. The vehicle's conversion began late that year. Nearly two years later, final assembly of Challenger started. Before installing its reentry-enabling thermal heat shield, fit-check tiles were fabricated and installed on the orbiter's body. These "stand-in" tiles were then referenced to manufacture their flight-ready counterparts. Challenger rolled out of its California assembly facility June 30, 1982. back to Artifacts © 1999-2008 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. Questions? E-mail contact@collectspace.com