Spaceflight Now: STS-103 Mission Report
Photo Gallery:
Third spacewalk

SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: December 25, 1999


During the third and final spacewalk of mission STS-103, astronauts successfully installed a new control unit, replaced a broken data transmitter and switched out an old tape recorder on the Hubble Space Telescope. Images from NASA.

Christmas Eve walk
Steve Smith floats into Discovery's payload bay to begin a Christmas Eve spacewalk to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
Outside
Getting set up
Spacewalker John Grunsfeld rides on the end of the robotic arm while setting up for the work planned during the EVA.
Preps
Adding new controls
The spacewalkers move into position for installation of an optical control electronics package.
OCE
Moving around
Hubble's outer surface is covered with a series of handrails that allow the spacewalkers a way of moving from place to place.
Handrails
Out with old
Spacewalker John Grunsfeld removes an old reel-to-reel tape recorder from Hubble.
Old out
In with the new
The new solid state recorder is moved into position for installation, replacing the old data system.
In new
Flight data file
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Payload: HST Servicing Mission-3A
Launch date: Dec. 20, 1999
Launch window: 0050-0132 GMT (1950-2032 EST Dec. 19)
Launch site: LC-39B, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Landing date: Dec. 27, 1999
Landing time: 2224 GMT (1724 EST)
Landing site: SLF, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Photo gallery
Second spacewalk - views from Thursday's spacewalk.

First spacewalk - views from Wednesday's spacewalk.

Retrieval - Images from Tuesday's rendezvous and capture of Hubble.

Launch - Images from Sunday's countdown and launch.

Video vault
British born astronaut Michael Foale removes Hubble's old computer during the second spacewalk of the mission.
  PLAY (450k QuickTime file)

Space shuttle Discovery launches on STS-103 for the third mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
  PLAY (596k QuickTime file)

Discovery's solid rocket boosters peel away from the shuttle's external fuel tank just over two minutes into flight.
  PLAY (218k QuickTime file)

The STS-103 crew depart their crew quarters on Sunday afternoon headed for launch pad 39B.
  PLAY (341k QuickTime file)

NASA Launch Director Dave King announces that the first launch attempt on Friday was scrubbed because of bad weather.
  PLAY (253k QuickTime file)

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MISSION STATUS CENTER