The first free flight of the Space Shuttle Enterprise occurred to evaluate the shuttle's flight characteristics in a real-world scenario. The shuttle was initially mounted on the back of a modified Boeing 747, known as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). This method of testing allowed engineers to analyze how the shuttle would behave when released from the carrier and during its glide descent. At approximately 35,000 feet, the Enterprise was released for its glide test while the crew aboard the 747 conducted a series of steps to ensure stability during the release.

On the day of the flight, the Environmental Systems Laboratory and Dryden Flight Research Center teams focused their efforts on supporting the mission. The shuttle, devoid of its rocket engines, managed to glide successfully for about five minutes before landing smoothly on the dry lake bed of Edwards Air Force Base. This initial glide test represented the culmination of years of engineering and development, essentially paving the way for the subsequent flights of later operational space shuttles.

Post-flight analysis confirmed the data gathered from these trials would help refine both shuttle design and mission protocols for future flights. The success on this day was instrumental in building confidence in the shuttle program and demonstrated NASA's commitment to developing a versatile spacecraft capable of supporting human space exploration. The Enterprise's pioneering flight also marked the beginning of a series of test flights that tested various aspects of the shuttle’s design and performance, eventually leading up to its maiden orbital flight in 1981.