• 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
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 42 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 7 days, 21 hours, 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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