The GATV was still being stored in Hanger E, Eastern Test Range, minus its main engine which SSD had directed Lockheed to ship to Bell Aerosystems on November 9 for modification.

Although SSD and NASA had considered using GATV 5001 as the second flight vehicle, it needed to be refurbished, repaired, and updated - work which could be done only at the Lockheed plant. A dummy engine was installed to simulate weight and center of gravity, and the vehicle left the Cape by commercial van on November 20, arriving at Sunnyvale November 24.