• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Pad 39B
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: December 11 at 11:42 p.m. EST
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: December 21 at about 8:50 p.m. EST
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 42 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: about 9 days and 21 hours
• CREW: Brown, Kelly, Smith, Foale, Grunsfeld, Nicollier, Clervoy
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 317 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

Work in progress: This afternoon, Shuttle managers moved the launch of Shuttle Discovery to Dec. 11 at 11:42 p.m. The delay accommodates additional wiring work in the orbiter's aft compartment. Today, technicians are completing efforts to replace and retest a wiring harness that provides command and feedback support to the main engine No. 2 controller. One wire in the harness had a 1/8-inch nick in its Teflon insulation, and engineers decided last night to replace the entire harness. Engine No. 2 will undergo flight readiness tests, and leak checks will be repeated.

Aft compartment close-outs are expected to conclude early Thursday, and the launch countdown is set to begin at 4 a.m. Thursday. The flight crew will take advantage of the additional time to review mission plans and spend time with family members.

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