The external fuel tank for what couldbe the last mission ofNASA's space shuttle program rolled into an assembly building at theKennedySpace Center in Florida yesterday (Sept. 28).
Technicians at Kennedy will nowprocess and stack the tankin preparation for the launch of the shuttle Endeavour to the InternationalSpace Station on Feb. 26, 2011, NASA officials said.
The tank is about 154 feet (47meters) long and 28 feet (8.5meters) wide and weighs nearly 60,000 pounds (27,273kilograms) when empty. Itarrived in Florida Monday from a NASA facility in New Orleans.
When full, the tank will containliquid hydrogen and liquidoxygen, which will power Endeavour's engines during liftoff and ascent.Thetank will be flanked by twin solid rocket boosters strapped to theorbiter'ssides, which will also help carry the shuttle aloft.
The tank and boosters will bejettisoned and fall back toEarth after Endeavour's initial push to the sky. Unlike the boosters,however,the external tank will not be collected and reused.
Endeavour's flight is the lastscheduled shuttle mission andone of onlytwo remaining on the docket.
Discovery is expected to deliver astorage room to the spacestation, along with a humanoid robot assistant for the outpost'sastronautcrew.
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- WhatWill NASA Do With the Retired Space Shuttles?
