Categories: Space Shuttle

External Tank for Final Scheduled Shuttle Mission Arrives at KSC (Gallery)

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Universe Today photographer Alan Walters was on hand at Kennedy Space Center today to see the arrival of ET-138, the external tank for the final scheduled space shuttle mission, STS-134. Enjoy this gallery of images, (because it is something that might only happen one more time…). There was also a surprise drive-by of some segments of used shuttle solid rocket boosters.

Arrival of ET-138 at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Arrival of ET-138 at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Arrival of ET-138 at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Arrival of ET-138 at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Arrival of ET-138 at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Closeup of ET-138 at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Arrival of ET-138 at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Arrival of ET-138 at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Used SRB sections drive past while ET-138 is being unloaded at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Used SRB sections drive past while ET-138 is being unloaded at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Kennedy's External Tank/Solid Rocket Booster Vehicle Manager Alicia Mendoza is interviewed at KSC on July 14, 2010. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Closeup of the nose of ET-138. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
ET-138 arrives at the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC. Credit: Alan Walters (awaltersphoto.com) for Universe Today
Nancy Atkinson

Nancy has been with Universe Today since 2004. She is the author of a new book on the Apollo program, "Eight Years to the Moon," which shares the stories of 60 engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make landing on the Moon possible. Her first book, "Incredible Stories from Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos" tells the stories of those who work on NASA's robotic missions to explore the Solar System and beyond.

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