Historic Photos: Final Spacewalk of NASA's Shuttle Era

Fossum Prepares for Spacewalk

NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, 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 Ron Garan (out of frame). A short time later, NASA astronauts Garan and Fossum, with a great deal of support from crewmates inside the shirt sleeve environment of the spacecraft, joined forces to complete some needed chores during the six and half hour spacewalk.

Last Spacewalkers of the Shuttle Era

Following the 6 1/2-hour spacewalk of NASA astronauts Ron Garan (top left) and Mike Fossum (top right) on July 12, 2011, five members of the joint shuttle-station crew pose for photographs in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station. Remaining inside but contributing greatly to the outside duo were, from left front, NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson, STS-135 commander, Doug Hurley, pilot, and Rex Walheim, mission specialist. Garan and Fossum are flight engineers for the station's Expedition 28 crew. It was the last spacewalk of NASA's shuttle era and performed during the STS-135 shuttle mission.