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 and a seven-member flight crew lifted off from KSC's Launch Pad 39B on time at 7:50:00:069 p.m. today. The launch team worked no significant issues during the launch countdown and weather conditions were excellent at launch time. Discovery has embarked on its 27th space flight.

Discovery and crew will rendezvous with the Hubble Space Telescope on Tuesday afternoon for a berthing of the spacecraft in the orbiter's payload bay Tuesday night. Three space walks are planned during this mission to accomplish planned Hubble servicing efforts. Discovery returns to earth Monday, Dec. 27 at about 5:24 p.m. EST.

The solid rocket booster recovery ships, Liberty Star and Freedom Star, deployed from KSC on Wednesday, Dec. 15. They are expected to arrive at Hangar AF with boosters in tow tomorrow at about 4:30 p.m. EST.