Wind tunnel and flight calibration of the Shuttle Orbiter air data system

The Space Shuttle Orbiter air data system has been subjected to wind tunnel testing including three subsonic tests and one reference probe calibration test in order to obtain preflight calibration. Calibration curves for angle of attack, static pressure, and total pressure are given in the 0.35-0.55 Mach number range which represents flight conditions. The major difficulties encountered concerned the reference pressure of the facility, model-probe scale discrepancies, tunnel changes and blockage effects. Actual flight data calibrations from the approach and landing test program were used to modify the wind tunnel calibrations.