NASA's Fuel Tank for Next Shuttle Launch Arrives at Kennedy (Status report)

02.28.06

Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Phone: (321) 867-2468

MEDIA ADVISORY: 16-06

NASA'S FUEL TANK FOR NEXT SHUTTLE LAUNCH ARRIVES AT KENNEDY

The redesigned external fuel tank that will launch the Space Shuttle
Discovery on the next shuttle mission is scheduled to arrive on
Wednesday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The barge carrying the
tank departed from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Feb.
25.

The tank is scheduled to arrive at the turn basin at 1 p.m. EST
Wednesday. Media who wish to view the tank rolling off the barge at the
turn basin and being transported into the Vehicle Assembly Building may
arrive at the Kennedy News Center at 3 p.m. EST. Times are subject to
change. On Wednesday morning, media can verify arrival times by calling
the Kennedy Press Site at (321) 867-2468.

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 one of the ramps came off during the July 2005 launch of
the last shuttle mission. The ramps were removed to help eliminate a
potential source of damaging debris to the space shuttle.

Media without Kennedy Space Center credentials should submit their
requests via the online accreditation Web site:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

For information about the next shuttle mission, STS-121, on the Web,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home


-end-



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73' André, PE1PQX
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