KSC-06pd0406
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - One of the two space shuttle launch pads in Launch Complex 39 is visible behind the Pegasus barge as it traverses the turn basin near the Vehicle Assembly Building. The barge is on the last leg of its journey from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to NASA's 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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Details
NASA ID
KSC-06pd0406
Date Created
March 1, 2006
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Kennedy Space Center, FL
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