NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lockheed Martin rolls out External Tank #133 July 29 at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The ET arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida via barge August 4 and will help launch STS 129 into space later in November. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

The latest external tank (ET) arrived at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida August 3. Lockheed Martin assembles the tank at Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans for the Space Shuttle Program. The 133rd tank left New Orleans inside the enclosed barge, Pegasus, bound for KSC July 29. The tank is scheduled to help launch the STS-129 mission to the International Space Station on Nov. 12.

Lockheed Martin has been building the tanks for 36 years at the New Orleans facility and has at least five more to deliver.

NASA and Michoud are transitioning to the next generation of space flight – the Constellation Program. The Ares I Upper Stage and Orion Crew Capsule are under development, and components are planned to be built at Michoud, one of the largest aerospace production facilities in the nation.

For more information on the Michoud Assembly Facility, go to http://maf.msfc.nasa.gov.