Historic Photos: Final Spacewalk of NASA's Shuttle Era

Serious Hang Time

With the help of his hands and a tether, NASA astronaut Ron Garan hangs from the U.S. lab or Destiny during a July 12 extravehicular activity (EVA) that lasted just over six and a half hours. Out of frame is astronaut Mike Fossum. It was the last spacewalk of NASA's shuttle era, which ends with the flight of STS-135 on Atlantis.

High Angle of the International Space Station Cupola

This July 12 view shows the Cupola, backdropped against the darkness of space and some parts of solar array panels, on the International Space Station. Faces of several of the Atlantis STS-135 and Expediton 28 crewmembers can be seen in the Cupola's windows.

Spaceman Meets Robot

NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 28 flight engineer, is photographed near the Canadian-built Dextre robot (right) as he works outside the International Space Station during a July 12 spacewalk involving him and NASA astronaut Ron Garan as the outside participants for the 6/12-hour event while NASA's final shuttle mission STS-135 was at the station. The spacewalk was the final one of NASA's 30-year shutte era.

A Last Robot Arm Ride

Astronaut Ron Garan holds a broken cooling pump module at the end of the space station's robotic arm duringthe last spacewalk of the shuttle era on July 12, 2011. Garan is riding the arm to the shuttle Atlantis' payload bay. The faulty component will be installed at the back of Atlantis' cargo carrier to be returned to Earth at the end of the orbiter's STS-135 mission.

Spacewalker and the Robot

A spacewalking astronaut works to install a new experiment for robotic satellite refueling outside the International Space Station on July 11, 2011 while the Canadian built Dextre robot (top) looks on outside the International Space Station. The spacewalk was the last ever of the space shuttle era and was performed by NASA astronauts Ron Garan and Mike Fossum

Space Station's Broken Pump

Astronaut Ron Garan holds a broken cooling pump module at the end of the space station's robotic arm duringthe last spacewalk of the shuttle era on July 12, 2011. Garan is riding the arm to the shuttle Atlantis' payload bay. The faulty component will be installed at the back of Atlantis' cargo carrier to be returned to Earth at the end of the orbiter's STS-135 mission.

One Last Shuttle Era EVA

NASA astronaut Ron Garan, Expediton 28 flight engineer, egresses the Quest airlock on the International Space Station as he prepares to join crewmate Mike Fossum on a July 12, 2011 spacewalk. The spacewalk was the final spacewalk of NASA's 30-year shuttle era and was performed during the STS-135 mission.

One Last Walk in Space

Expedition 28 Flight Engineers Ron Garan (top) and Mike Fossum exit the International Space Station's Quest airlock to begin their spacewalk, the last of the space shuttle era, on July 11, 2011 during NASA's STS-135 shuttle mission.

Suiting up for Spacewalk

NASA astronauts Mike Fossum is seen suiting up for a July 11, 2011 spacewalk, the last spacewalk of the space shuttle era, to work outside the International Space Station during the final shuttle mission STS-135 aboard Atlantis.

Garan Prepares for Spacewalk

NASA astronaut Ron Garan, Expedition 28 flight engineer, checks out tools in the International Space Station's Quest airlock prior to the July 12, 2011, spacewalk he performed outside the docked station and space shuttle Atlantis with station crewmate Mike Fossum (out of frame). A short time later the two joined forces with supportive crewmates inside the spacecraft to complete some needed chores during the six and half hour spacewalk.