KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Aboard its transporter, external tank No. 117 moves away from the Pegasus barge, at right, heading for the Vehicle Assembly Building. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Aboard its transporter, external tank No. 117 moves toward the Vehicle Assembly Building, at right. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- External tank No. 117 begins to move out of the Pegasus barge in the turn basin near Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- External tank No. 117 is towed out of the Pegasus barge in the turn basin near Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- External tank No. 117 is ready for offloading from the Pegasus barge in the turn basin near Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Aboard its transporter, external tank No. 117 moves into the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The tank was offloaded from the Pegasus barge in the nearby turn basin. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This closeup of external tank No. 117 reveals the enormity of the tank -- 154 feet long, 27.5 feet around and weighing 58,500 pounds -- as it dwarfs the workers behind it. Offloaded from the Pegasus barge in the nearby turn basin, the tank is heading for the Vehicle Assembly Building. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Aboard its transporter, external tank No. 117 maneuvers around the corner as it heads for the Vehicle Assembly Building, seen behind it. The tank was offloaded from the Pegasus barge in the nearby turn basin. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Viewed across the turn basin are the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building and the Pegasus barge that brought external tank No. 117. The tank has been transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Still aboard its transporter, external tank No. 117 sits in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The tank was offloaded from the Pegasus barge in the nearby turn basin. ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Aboard its transporter, external tank No. 117 moves toward the open doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The tank was offloaded from the Pegasus barge in the nearby turn basin.ET-117 arrived aboard the barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. ET-117 will be moved into a checkout cell in high bay 2 of the VAB for processing. Photo credit: NASA_Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank No. 117 is suspended vertically above the transfer aisle. The tank will next be lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seen from below, external tank No. 117 is lifted into the upper regions of the Vehicle Assembly Building in order to move it over a crossbeam into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, workers are attaching an overhead crane to external tank No. 117 in order to lift it to a vertical position. Once vertical, the tank will be lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank No. 117 seems to float above the transfer aisle as it is lifted off its transporter. The tank will be raised to a vertical position and then lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank No. 117 is slowly raised from horizontal to vertical. Once vertical, the tank will be lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank No. 117 is nearly raised to a vertical position above the transfer aisle. Once it is vertical, the tank will be lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the suspended external tank No. 117 reaches the level needed to move it over the crossbeam into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the overhead crane lifts external tank No. 117 off its transporter. The tank will be raised to a vertical position and then lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the suspended external tank No. 117 has been lowered into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the suspended external tank No. 117 moves laterally at the highest level over a crossbeam into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank No. 117 is waiting to be raised off its transporter in order to lift it to a vertical position. Once vertical, the tank will be lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank No. 117 is lifted into the upper regions in order to move it over a crossbeam into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank No. 117 is lifted off its transporter in preparation for being lifted to a vertical position. Once vertical, the tank will be lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building, a worker checks the cable attached from the framework around external tank No. 117 to the overhead crane. The tank is suspended vertically above the transfer aisle before being lifted into the checkout cell in high bay 2 for processing. ET-117 arrived aboard the Pegasus barge after its voyage around the Florida Peninsula from the Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. The tank is slated for mission STS-118, which is targeted for launch in early August. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the turn basin near the NASA News Center swims a large fish, perhaps witness to the arrival today of the external fuel tank that will launch Space Shuttle Atlantis on the next shuttle mission, STS-115. The tank, designated ET-118, was shipped from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The area is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the center. The wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 117 fishes, as well as 310 species of birds, 25 mammals and 65 amphibians and reptiles. In addition, the Refuge supports 19 endangered or threatened wildlife species on Federal or State lists, more than any other single refuge in the U.S. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett