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National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationSpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-103
Launched
December 20, 1999
Summary
STS-103 launched on a National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on December 20, 1999. It was National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 138th launch, 1st this year and humanity's 4,363rd orbital launch attempt. It was the 96th Space Shuttle flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). It reached a 328 × 591 km orbit inclined 28.5°. 7 crew members flew: Claude Nicollier, Jean-François Clervoy, Curtis Brown, Michael Foale, John M. Grunsfeld, Steven Smith and Scott Kelly. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103). One object from this launch is catalogued.
- Watch
- STS-103 launch (12-19-99)3210andLiftoff
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Astrophysics · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 96th Space Shuttle flight · 3rd this yearNational Aeronautics and Space Administration's 138th launch1st this yearhumanity's 4,363rd orbital launch attempt74th orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
Claude NicollierMission Specialist · ESA · age 55 · 4th flight
Jean-François ClervoyMission Specialist · ESA · age 41 · 3rd flight
Curtis BrownCommander · NASA · age 43 · 6th flight
Michael FoaleMission Specialist · NASA · age 42 · 5th flight
John M. GrunsfeldMission Specialist · NASA · age 41 · 3rd flight
Steven SmithMission Specialist · NASA · age 40 · 3rd flight
Scott KellyPilot · NASA · age 35 · first flight
Spacecraft
Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103)
Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the orbiters from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built. Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, gathering more spaceflights than any other spacecraft to date. Discovery became the third operational orbiter to enter service, preceded by Columbia and Challenger. It embarked on its last mission, STS-133, on February 24, 2011 and touched down for the final time at Kennedy Space Center on March 9, having spent a cumulative total of almost a full year in space. Discovery performed both research and International Space Station (ISS) assembly missions. It also carried the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. Discovery was the first operational shuttle to be retired, followed by Endeavour and then Atlantis.
- Destination: Low Earth Orbit
- Mission length: 7 days 23 hours
- Docked December 22, 1999 at Hubble Space Telescope
Space Shuttle Discovery successfully landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Discovery (STS-103) · NORAD 25996 · 1999-069 · Space-Track
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1999-069A
- Epoch
- 1999-12-20 01:49:58 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.37964732 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0192544
- Inclination
- 28.4732°
- Ascending node
- 306.2318°
- Arg. of perigee
- 52.0704°
- Mean anomaly
- 237.9466°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0.000015316
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
1 catalogued: 1 payload; none still in orbit
- Discovery (STS-103) · NORAD 25996 · landed December 28, 1999
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-103 was a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission by Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 19 December 1999 and returned on 27 December 1999.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
68th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 1st this year · 113th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
380 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-103 launch?
STS-103 launched on December 20, 1999. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-103?
Coverage: STS-103 launch (12-19-99). Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-103?
Space Shuttle, flown by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-103 launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-103 reach?
It reached a 328 × 591 km orbit inclined 28.5°.
Which program is STS-103 part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle