Robert Dilts Papers

Object NameMemorandum Brochure Newspaper Pamphlet Administrative Records Book

Historic Owner Robert Dilts

Association Enterprise (OV-101)

DateJune 26, 1974–December 10, 1977

PeriodPost-Decommissioning

Mediumpaper, ink

ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts

Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of Robert and Sue Ann Dilts. A2014.56

Object numberA2014.56

DescriptionExtent: 11 folders

Organization:

Rockwell International papers, June 26, 1974–December 10, 1977
-Personal papers, March 4, 1975–December 10, 1977
-Newspaper: Rockwell International News, January 31, 1975–September 12, 1977
-Publication, 2547, July 1974
-Ephemera, June 26, 1974–August 12, 1977
NASA papers, 1976–August 19, 1977
Newspaper clippings, February 9–September 14, 1977

Detailed Description of the Collection:

Rockwell International papers, June 26, 1974–December 10, 1977:

Personal papers, March 4, 1975–December 10, 1977

-Subject files, March 4, 1975–December 10, 1977
--Shuttle Orbiter // Mid Fuselage Movement // Phase Two //Ontario to Palmdale // October 14, 1976, March 4, 1975–October 14, 1976
---This file concerns the delivery of the Enterprise mid-fuselage from San Diego to Palmdale. Dilts was responsible for recording accelerometer readings for Phase 2 of the move. The file contains: a full move plan with agenda, and engineering drawings and procedures for handling and movement of items with accelerometers. Procedures include the process for removing from manufacturing fixture, weighing (prior to movement), prep for delivery, and transport and handling. Also present is Transportation teammate Al Grills’s inventory of items to be returned to GD San Diego. In addition, there is a personal table of notes on when and where accelerometer readings were taken during Phase 2 of the move from Ontario to Palmdale, at pre-arranged points or when experiencing abnormal movement.
--Manila folder on overland move, December 1976, November 22, 1976–June 3, 1977
---This folder has a copy of the overland Readiness Review, which Dilts notes was a prerequisite for the overland move plan for Enterprise. Related records include: the NASA Letter requesting Rockwell hold/conduct the review; the Agenda for the Review held from December 15, 1976 to December 17, 1976; a list of NASA Committee Members; a memorandum outlining specifics of the final Dimensional Rout Verification Test to be performed immediately prior to the Readiness Review; Dilts’s scratch notes on media needed for the presentation kits; and order slips for photographs.
--NASA Barge Poseidon // Seal Beach, CA to NASA-NSTL and NASA-JSC // Principal Cargo: MPTA, ECLSS, May–June 1977, January 4–June 15, 1977
---This folder contains Dilts’s papers on the preparing and loading of the MPTA on the barge Poseidon for its move to the NSTL and subsequent main engine tests. The folder includes: the Plan of Action-NASA Barge "Poseidon" Preparation and Loading Platform Rockwell; Dilts’s numbered copy of the Main Propulsion Test Article (MPTA) Packaging and Transport Plan, dated May 1977; a Contracts Production Operations Directive to initiate the MPTA move, dated April 14, 1977; the Activation Plan of Action and Occupancy Groundrules, Navy Building 126, Seal Beach, where MPTA and support equipment were to be assembled for barge loading; an inventory of support items for transport with MPTA on the barge; TWX dated June 1977, confirming departure of barge from Seal Beach; numerous letters and memos between NASA, Rockwell, Support Contractors, and US Navy on planning and execution of barge load; personal notes on a meeting planning the move; a dimensional drawing of aft fuselage for movement from Downey to Seal Beach; engineering drawing MK396-80019 of load layout on barge with tie down arrangements for weight and balance; Traffic & Transportation Personnel Roster with home address and phone contact information as of May 26, 1977; copy of signed DD-250 for shipment of MPTA; MPTA flow plan to NSTL with diagrams; a Plan of Action for MPTA Assembly Transloading at Michoud, New Orleans and Delivery to NSTL (M7-151-BJH-106), dated June 15, 1977; and an hourly flow diagram for MPTA transload to NASA Barge.
--Transportation Planning Schedule // and Principal Plans of Action, July 14–December 10, 1977
---This file consists of internal memoranda, such as: Transportation Schedule, September 20, 1977, for shipment/move from 10/26/77-6/10/78, identified by Orbiter & Transportation/Work Volume Indicators; Move Plan of Action for shipping OV-102 Vertical Tail from Fairchild, Long Island, NY to Palmdale, CA, December 10, 1977; Move Plan of Action for Movement of OV-102 Forward Fuselage Assembly from Downey to Palmdale, August 29, 1977; Move Plan of Action for Shipping OV-102 Aft Fuselage Assembly from Downey to Palmdale, October 16, 1977; Move Plan of Action for shipping GPS/QTV from Seal Bach to Vandenberg AFB, September 16, 1977; Move Plan of Action for Returning GPS/QTV from AEDC, Tullahoma, TN to Seal Beach, CA; Move Plan of Action for shipping OV-102 Wing Structure Subsystem from GAC, Long Island to Palmdale, CA, August 22, 1977.
--Space Shuttle/Orbiter Material Leadtime Matrix, January 7, 1977
---Total Procurement Bill of Material (PBOM) listing for OV-101 (Enterprise) thru OV-105. OPS-06, Rev. 1 Baseline.
--Space Shuttle Transportation Major Articles, December 1977
---4-page schedule of long rang plan for all major shuttle sub-assemblies and orbiter movement/deliveries. Changes on page 1 are Dilts’s from updates discussed during department staff meeting December 1977.
--Correspondence from Dick Babcock, NASA Marine Operations in the Transportation office at NASA-KSC, a friend, to Robert Dilts in regard to proposed barge for orbiter moves, n.d.
---The rendering was a concept design for moving the Orbiter via marine barge. Dilts notes: “The mission and where to use it did not materialize and (to the best of my knowledge) neither did the modified barge.”

Newspaper: Rockwell International News, January 31, 1975–September 12, 1977

-Volume 3, Number 2; January 31 1975. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Page 3 photo of Enterprise Crew Compartment/Module and article about pressure testing, additional photos and article on NASA delegates visiting Downey facility for progress of Orbiter and TPS Tiles.
-Volume 4, Number 7; April 9 1976. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Page 1 Article on Space Conference addressing shuttle; Page 2 photo of Enterprise Main Gear with tires mounted; Page 3 photo and article on visit by Jimmy Doolittle to Space Division.
-Volume 4, Number 9; May 9 1976. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Page 1 photo of shuttle test article with caption; Page 2 photo and caption of Enterprise forward section simulation tool being fit checked at Palmdale, bottom of page ;ho of our group moving the MPTA to the Lockheed stress test facility; Page 3 photo of Shuttle Main Engine test.
-Volume 4, Number 16; August 16 1976. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Page 2 has article on Enterprise Fabrication status and "5 Weeks to rollout" photo.
-Volume 4, Number 17; August 27 1976. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Articles and photos of Enterprise Fabrication status and "3 Weeks to rollout" photo.
-Volume 4, Number 20; October 8, 1976. Electronic Operations Weekly Newspaper. Article and Photo of Enterprise Rollout at Palmdale on September 17th 1976.
-Volume 5, Number 3; February 14, 1977. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Page 3 of Space Division paper with photos of the mating process performed 1/31/1977 immediately after delivery of the Enterprise. Photo at bottom of page mentions OV-102 progress at Palmdale.
-Volume 5, Number 11; June 6, 1977. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Page 3 photo of astronauts on flight deck of Enterprise and article on Phase 2 of ALT testing at DFRC.
-Volume 5, Number 13; July 1 1977. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Space Division News with articles on progress of orbiter including news of second captive flight test of the Enterprise.
-Volume 5, Number 13; July 1 1977. Rocketdyne Division Weekly Newspaper. Additional Articles on Shuttle progress & photos.
-Volume 5, Number 15; August 1 1977. Space Division Weekly Newspaper. Articles on success of 3rd captive flight. Page has relatively rare photo of Enterprise atop N905NA with gear deployed.
-Volume 5, Number 17; August 29, 1977. Space Division Weekly Newspaper . Photo and Article on First Free-Flight of Enterprise; Pages 2 & 3 more photos (Page 3 depicting full sequence from mated take-off to Enterprise Landing. Page 4 article on modifications to KSC for Space Shuttle.
-Volume 5, Number 18; September 12, 1977. Rocketdyne Division Weekly Newspaper. Page 1 SSME Test firing, Page 4 two Shuttle articles.
-Volume 5, Number 18; September 12, 1977. Space Division Weekly Newspaper.

Publication: Space Shuttle for Down To Earth Benefits. Color fold-out from Rockwell Brief narrative on Man vs Earth; Benefits from Space; What it (Space Shuttle) Will Do. 2547-V-4 New 7-74, July 1974

Ephemera, June 26, 1974–August 12, 1977, n.d.

-Symposium Space Shuttle Subcontractors attendee folder, June 26, 1974
--Contains: booklet with illustrations of the orbiter and program objectives, Symposium Agenda, pamphlet on “Down-to-Earth Benefits,” publication titled “Looking OUT for our EARTH” with brief history of space program that North American/Rockwell contributed to, and pamphlet on the shuttle economic distribution across the US.
-Flyer Commemorating the First Free Flight of the of the Enterprise, August 12, 1977
--Space Division Flyer distributed to employees stating "Hey We Did It! Every one of us commemorating the first "Spaceship to Land on Earth
-Commemorative decals, n.d.
--Decals commemorate: movement/delivery of wings for Enterprise, OV-102, and STA, which became Challenger; Enterprise Unmanned Captive Flight Tests; and Overland Move/Delivery of Enterprise
-Commemorative Envelope for the Enterprise Overland Move, n.d.
--Envelope has a postcard describing the phase of the program

NASA papers, 1976–August 19, 1977, n.d.:

Book: Space Shuttle. Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Washington, DC: Scientific and Technical Information Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1976
Document: NASA // Space Shuttle Free Flight #1, August 12, 1977
-Timeline, map, and description of Enterprise for first free-flight at DFRC
Newspaper: Spaceport News. John F. Kennedy Space Center, August 19, 1977
- Kennedy Space Center Weekly Newspaper with article on Enterprise first free flight with photos
Booklet: Bland, Daniel A., Jr. Space Shuttle EVA Opportunities. Houston, Texas: Johnson Space Center, n.d.

Newspaper clippings, February 9–September 14, 1977:

“Going on a Trip,” February 9, 1977
Himmel, Nieson. “Shuttle Orbiter Goes for Its First Piggyback Ride.” Los Angeles Times, February 16, 1977
“Shuttle Taxi Tests Completed.” Los Angeles Times, February 16, 1977
Alexander, George. “Space Shuttle Goes Aloft on 747 – All’s AOK.” Los Angeles Times, February 19, 1977
“Space Shuttle Makes First Manned Flight Atop a Boeing 747.” New York Times, June 19, 1977
Alexander, George. “Shuttle Soars Through Complex Tests.” Los Angeles Times, September 14, 1977

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