KSC Contact: Joel Wells
Saturday, December 18, 1999
(1:30 a.m. EST)
MISSION: STS-103 – 3rd Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: December 19 at 7:50 p.m. EST (under review)
TARGET LANDING DATE/TIME: December 27 at about 5 p.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 42 minutes
MISSION DURATION: about 8 days
CREW: Brown, Kelly, Smith, Foale, Grunsfeld, Nicollier, Clervoy
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 317 nautical miles/28.45 degrees
Work in progress: Today, Shuttle managers decided to delay Discovery’s
launch due to the increased threat of unfavorable weather. Launch managers
intended to begin operations to load the external tank at 11 a.m. today, but
with a 70 percent chance of weather violation they delayed a go ahead
decision to collect more weather data. By noon, weather officials reported
an 80 percent probability that weather would prohibit tonight’s launch
attempt. The primary concerns are thick layered clouds and rain showers.
Shuttle managers are assessing the possibility of launching Discovery on
Sunday, Dec. 19. Current forecasts indicate a 60 percent chance of
favorable weather. Along with weather, managers are reviewing the
feasibility of supporting contingency landing operations at Edward Air Force
Base, CA, prior to the new year.
Tomorrow’s forecast calls for clouds to be scattered to broken at 3,000
feet, broken at 7,000 feet, and overcast at 12,000-22,000 feet; visibility
at 7 miles; winds out of the north east at 12 knots gusting to 20 knots;
temperature at 69 degrees F; and rain showers in the KSC vicinity.
-end-
