The External Tank has arrived for the Shuttle’s next flight. Here’s NASA’s report from 2/28:
Discovery’s External Tank Arrives at Kennedy
The external fuel tank that will help launch space shuttle Discovery on the next shuttle mission has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center this afternoon. Designated ET-119, the tank departed the Michoud Assembly Facility on Feb. 25 and reached Florida’s Port Canaveral around noon Wednesday, March 1. It was offloaded and rolled into the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will eventually be mated to the twin white solid rocket boosters and the orbiter Discovery.
Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is still targeted for May, NASA officials said during a space shuttle program update at Kennedy on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The agency is still working to verify that changes to the design of the external tank will result in a safer launch. Upcoming wind tunnel tests are expected to offer important engineering data that will help determine the feasibility of a May launch. In the meantime, launch preparations continue.
“The thing that is going to pace getting Discovery off the ground is not work at [Kennedy],” Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale said. “But it is the engineering analysis and tests that go toward proving that this launch vehicle is safe to fly.”
Overview of STS-121 here.