16 Sunsets Enterprise!
Dec 5, 2024
BJo Trimble, a US Navy veteran and passionate science fiction fan, campaigned for the Space Shuttle's name, while John Aaron, a former Apollo flight controller, managed crucial systems during its inaugural flight. They discuss the drama of the shuttle's first free flight, including a critical computer failure that put the crew's quick thinking to the test. The impact of science fiction on the shuttle's naming and the fierce grassroots advocacy behind it reveals a fascinating intersection of culture and aerospace history.
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Bonnie Dunbar’s Shuttle Experience
- Engineer Bonnie Dunbar witnessed the shuttle's assembly firsthand in her early career, inspiring her lifelong passion for space.
- She loved seeing the new spacecraft come to life at Rockwell's hangars in the Mojave Desert.
BJo Trimble's Sci-Fi Escape
- BJo Trimble discovered science fiction as an escape from her troubled home life.
- She embraced Star Trek fan culture which later empowered her influential letter-writing campaigns.
Fan Campaign Renames Shuttle
- The Trimbles led a large fan letter-writing campaign to rename the shuttle from Constitution to Enterprise.
- This grassroots effort eventually attracted White House attention, influencing the shuttle's official name.