• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: VAB
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: early December (under review)
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: mid-December (under review)
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 42 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days
• CREW: Brown, Kelly, Smith, Foale, Grunsfeld, Nicollier, Clervoy
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 317 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

Work in progress: Orbiter Discovery has been mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters stack in VAB high bay 1. Electrical and mechanical connections will conclude late Friday and the orbiter/external tank umbilical mate occurs Saturday. Over the weekend, workers will begin preparations for the engine No. 3 replacement work scheduled to happen at the launch pad. Managers currently plan to transfer Discovery out to Launch Pad 39B Tuesday, Nov. 9 beginning at about 2 a.m.

Payload managers plan to transfer the Hubble Servicing Mission cargo to the launch pad Monday, Nov. 8 with installation into the orbiter slated for Nov. 12.

KSC managers are developing the remainder of Discovery's prelaunch processing schedule and expect to brief Shuttle program managers at a meeting Monday morning. Program managers are likely to set a new target launch date for STS-103 after the meeting.

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