What status does Independence (FSA) hold compared to Discovery?
Answer
It is a Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT)
The vehicle named Independence, located at Space Center Houston and affiliated with the NASA Johnson Space Center, is technically not an operational, flight-qualified space shuttle orbiter like Discovery (OV-103) or Atlantis (OV-104). Instead, Independence is identified as a Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT). This means it was constructed for ground testing and training purposes rather than for surviving the thermal and mechanical stresses of atmospheric re-entry and spaceflight. Although it is displayed publicly alongside the history of the fleet, its structural qualifications differ fundamentally from the orbiters that achieved spaceflight.
#Videos
Space Shuttle Discovery: Discover What's Inside - YouTube
Related Questions
Where is Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) currently displayed?How many astronauts did Space Shuttle Discovery transport over its 39 flights?What was Discovery's unique role following the Challenger disaster?What is the official designation for the Space Shuttle Discovery?What type of artifacts does the Udvar-Hazy Center primarily house?When did Space Shuttle Discovery complete its first mission?Discovery is second only to which orbiter in total missions flown?What status does Independence (FSA) hold compared to Discovery?What common visitor fee might apply at the Udvar-Hazy Center but not the Mall museum?What was the designation of Space Shuttle Discovery's final mission?