STS-103

STS-103
source
Mission name	STS-103
Spacecraft	Discovery
Crew members	Curtis Brown, Scott Kelly, John Grunsfeld, C. Michael Foale, Jean-François Clervoy, Dominic Gorie, James Voss, Steven Smith

STS-103 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission that launched on December 20, 1999, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B. The mission was crewed by astronauts from United States, France, and Russia, including Curtis Brown, Scott Kelly, John Grunsfeld, C. Michael Foale, Jean-François Clervoy, Dominic Gorie, James Voss, and Steven Smith. The mission was the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope and was carried out by the Space Shuttle Discovery. The crew conducted three EVAs to replace NASA's Hubble Space Telescope's Gyroscopes, Power Control Unit, and Fine Guidance Sensor, with support from European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency.

Mission Overview

The mission was the 96th NASA Space Shuttle mission and the 27th flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission was launched from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B and landed back at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The mission was a critical one for NASA and Hubble Space Telescope as it replaced key components that were essential for the telescope's continued operation. The mission was also significant for European Space Agency as it marked the first time a European Space Agency astronaut, Jean-François Clervoy, had flown on a NASA Space Shuttle mission. The crew also worked closely with Canadian Space Agency and Russian Federal Space Agency to ensure the success of the mission.

Crew

The crew of the mission consisted of seven astronauts from United States, France, and Russia. The crew members were Curtis Brown, Scott Kelly, John Grunsfeld, C. Michael Foale, Jean-François Clervoy, Dominic Gorie, James Voss, and Steven Smith. The crew was led by Curtis Brown, who was the mission commander, and included Scott Kelly as the pilot. The crew also included three Mission Specialists, John Grunsfeld, C. Michael Foale, and Jean-François Clervoy, who were responsible for conducting the EVAs. The crew worked closely with NASA's Johnson Space Center, European Space Agency's European Astronaut Centre, and Canadian Space Agency's John H. Chapman Space Centre to prepare for the mission.

Mission Objectives

The primary objective of the mission was to service the Hubble Space Telescope and replace key components that were essential for its continued operation. The crew replaced the telescope's Gyroscopes, Power Control Unit, and Fine Guidance Sensor, which were critical for the telescope's stability and pointing accuracy. The crew also installed new Solar arrays and a Data Management Unit to improve the telescope's power and data management capabilities. The mission was critical for NASA and Hubble Space Telescope as it ensured the continued operation of the telescope and allowed it to continue making groundbreaking discoveries. The mission also supported the work of Spitzer Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.

Mission Timeline

The mission launched on December 20, 1999, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B and landed back at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility on December 28, 1999. The crew conducted three EVAs on December 22, 23, and 24, 1999, to replace the telescope's Gyroscopes, Power Control Unit, and Fine Guidance Sensor. The crew also installed new Solar arrays and a Data Management Unit during the EVAs. The mission was supported by NASA's Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center, European Space Agency's European Space Operations Centre, and Canadian Space Agency's Canadian Space Agency Headquarters.

Spacecraft and Payload

The mission used the Space Shuttle Discovery, which was launched from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B. The payload included the Hubble Space Telescope's replacement components, such as Gyroscopes, Power Control Unit, and Fine Guidance Sensor. The crew also carried out experiments on board the Space Shuttle Discovery, including a Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment and a Cellular Biotechnology Operations Support System. The mission was supported by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, European Space Agency's Guiana Space Centre, and Canadian Space Agency's David Florida Laboratory. The crew worked closely with Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman to ensure the success of the mission. Category:Astronautics