The Shuttle Orbiter 101 "Enterprise" soars above the NASA 747 carrier aircraft after separating during the first free flight of the Shuttle Apporach and Landing Tests (ALTs) conducted on August 12, 1977 at Dryden Flight Research Center in Southern California. Astronauts Fred W. Haise Jr., and C. Gordon Fullerton were the crew of the "Enterprise." The ALT free flights are designed to verify Orbiter subsonic airworthiness, integrated systems operations and pilot-guided approach and landing capability and satisfying prerequisites to automatic flight control and navigation mode.
NASA
Taken on 12 August 1977
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasacommons/19669327824/">Enterprise First Free Flight</a> (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/s77-27945.jpeg">direct link on NASA</a>)