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 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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