With space shuttle Atlantis’ 25-year spaceflight career now in the history books, its next mission — to inform and inspire generations of visitors to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida — is one step closer to reality. A groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 18 officially launched construction of a new 65,000-square-foot exhibit at the complex’s Space Shuttle Plaza, where NASA’s fourth space-rated orbiter will be the main attraction.

This artist rendering reveals a full-scale external tank and twin solid rocket booster replicas standing at the exhibit entrance.

Source : NASA