The first space shuttle ever built was named "Enterprise." The Enterprise was a test vehicle used by NASA in the 1970s to conduct atmospheric test flights and approach and landing tests. It was not equipped for spaceflight, but it played a crucial role in the development of the Space Shuttle program. The Enterprise was named after the famous starship from the television series Star Trek, in response to a massive write-in campaign by fans of the show. The shuttle made its first test flight on February 18, 1977, mounted atop a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. It successfully completed a series of approach and landing tests before being retired. The Enterprise paved the way for future space shuttles, including Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. These shuttles were used for a variety of missions, including deploying satellites, conducting scientific research, and servicing the Hubble Space Telescope. To learn more about the history of the Space Shuttle program and the Enterprise, visit the official NASA website at www.nasa.gov. There, you can find detailed information about the development and testing of the Enterprise, as well as the missions flown by the other space shuttles. The Space Shuttle program was one of the most iconic and groundbreaking achievements in the history of space exploration. It revolutionized our ability to launch and retrieve payloads from space, as well as conduct experiments in microgravity. The shuttles were retired in 2011 after 135 missions, leaving a lasting legacy in the annals of spaceflight history. In conclusion, the first space shuttle ever built was the Enterprise, a test vehicle used by NASA to pave the way for future shuttle missions. Its contributions to the Space Shuttle program were invaluable, and it will always hold a special place in the hearts of space enthusiasts around the world.

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