• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Pad 39B
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: no earlier than December 16 at 9:18 p.m. EST
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: December 26 at about 6:40 p.m. EST
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 41 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: Shuttle managers today decided to replace a dented main propulsion system hydrogen line in Space Shuttle Discovery's engine compartment. Managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. The progress of this planned effort will be monitored throughout, but preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of no earlier than Dec. 16. Under the current plan, the launch countdown will begin Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 1:30 a.m.

Workers noted a dent in the line during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday. The dent measures 12 inches long and about ½-inch deep. The line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. The section of this manifold line that requires replacement measures about 6 feet long.

A spare hydrogen recirculation line has already been prepared for installation. Tomorrow morning, workers at Launch Pad 39B will begin work to remove the damaged line. Under the current plan, installation of the replacement line begins Saturday and orbiter aft compartment close-outs will occur on Monday.

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: VAB
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 13, 2000 at 1:11 p.m. EST
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 24, 2000 at 5:16 p.m. EST
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 54 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 4 hours, 5 minutes
• CREW: Kregel, Gorie, Kavandi, Voss, Mohri, Thiele
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 126 nautical miles/57 degrees

Work in progress: In the Vehicle Assembly Building, workers have completed installation of Endeavour's main engine No. 3. Final connections are in work today and main propulsion system leak checks follow tomorrow. Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to roll out of VAB high bay 1 Monday at about 7 a.m. headed for Launch Pad 39A.

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