selected

NASA's first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, made its first test flight on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (both pictured).

Historical image related to NASA's first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, made its first test flight on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (both pictured). from February 18, 1977

NASA

American space and aeronautics agency

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the United States's civil space program, aeronautics research and space research. Established in 1958, it succeeded the National Advisory Committee for…
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Space Shuttle program

1972–2011 United States human spaceflight program

The Space Shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011. Its official program name was Space…
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Space Shuttle Enterprise

Space Shuttle test vehicle, used for glide tests

Space Shuttle Enterprise was the first orbiter of the Space Shuttle system. Rolled out on September 17, 1976, it was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform atmospheric test flights after being launched from a modified Boeing 747. It was constructed…
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

Extensively modified Boeing 747 airliners that NASA used to transport Space Shuttle orbiters

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) are two extensively modified Boeing 747 airliners that NASA used to transport Space Shuttle orbiters. One (N905NA) is a 747-100 model, while the other (N911NA) is a short-range 747-100SR. Both are now retired.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)