MISSION: STS-103 – 3rd Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION: On orbit
OFFICIAL LAUNCH DATE/TIME: December 19 at 7:50 p.m. EST
TARGET LANDING DATE/TIME: December 27 at about 5:24 p.m. EST
MISSION DURATION: about 7 days, 21 hours and 34 minutes; with 3 EVAs
CREW: Brown, Kelly, Smith, Foale, Grunsfeld, Nicollier, Clervoy
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 317 nautical miles/28.45 degrees
Work in progress: Space Shuttle Discovery continues to perform very well on
orbit as the flight crew prepares to rendezvous with, grapple and service
the Hubble Space Telescope. Following Discovery’s launch last night,
workers completed a preliminary walk down of Launch Pad 39B. Inspectors
report only minimal damage at the pad.
Just before noon today, the solid rocket booster recovery ships began towing
operations and are expected to arrive at Hangar AF Tuesday at about 4:30
a.m. Both boosters are reported to be in good condition following last
night’s splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.
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