KSC-06pd0402
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Freedom Star tows the Pegasus barge through Port Canaveral, the last leg of its journey from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to Kennedy Space Center. The barge carries the redesigned external fuel tank that will launch Space Shuttle Discovery on the next shuttle mission, STS-121. After off-loading, the tank will be moved into the Vehicle Assembly Building and lifted into a checkout cell for further work. The tank, designated ET-119, will fly with many major safety changes, including the removal of the protuberance air load ramps. A large piece of foam from a ramp came off during the last shuttle launch in July 2005. The ramps were removed to eliminate a potential source of damaging debris to the space shuttle. The next launch of Discovery is scheduled for May 2006.
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NASA ID
KSC-06pd0402
Date Created
March 1, 2006
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Kennedy Space Center, FL
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