For Release: Nov. 30, 1999

Jerry Berg
Media Relations Department
(256) 544-0034
Jerry.Berg@msfc.nasa.gov
/centers/msfc/NEWSROOM/

MEDIA ADVISORY: 99-292

Next Space Shuttle Mission on Track for Dec. 9 Launch;
Media Press Kit Is Available Online

Space Shuttle Discovery is being prepared for launch Thursday, Dec. 9, on the STS-103 flight, the third servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

On Nov. 24, Shuttle technicians closed Discovery's payload bay doors and completed planned main engine testing. On Dec. 1, Shuttle managers will conduct a follow-up flight readiness review to obtain a final status on prelaunch preparations. The launch countdown is scheduled to begin Dec. 6 at 5:30 a.m. EST.

Mission Highlights:

• SHUTTLE ORBITER: Discovery
• LOCATION: Pad 39B, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
• TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Dec. 9 at 1:10 a.m. EST
• TARGET LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 18 at approximately 10:15 p.m. EST
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 42 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: Approximately 9 days and 21 hours
• CREW: Commander Curtis L. Brown, Pilot Scott J. Kelly and Mission Specialists Steven L. Smith, Jean-Francois Clervoy, John M. Grunsfeld, Michael Foale and Claude Nicolier.
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE AND INCLINATION: 317 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

Members of the media: Press kits for Shuttle missions are no longer distributed in hard-copy form but are available online at:

http://www.shuttlepresskit.com

To receive Marshall releases by e-mail instead of fax, please e-mail judy.pettus@msfc.nasa.gov. Include the name of your media outlet, your title, mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and the headline of this news release.

Marshall's News Center on the Web is at:

/centers/msfc/NEWSROOM/