KSC-06pd0408

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Pegasus barge is docked in the turn basin close by the Vehicle Assembly Building. The barge delivered the redesigned external fuel tank that will launch Space Shuttle Discovery on the next shuttle mission, STS-121, from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. 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.