SPACEPHOTOS

(12/16/1999) --- STS-103 Mission Specialist Claude Nicollier of Switzerland and his wife, Susana, pose at Launch Pad 39B during a meeting of the STS-103 crew with their family and friends. Nicollier is with the European Space Agency. The lights in the background are on the Fixed Service Structure next to Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission, to service the Hubble Space Telescope, is scheduled for launch Dec. 17 at 8:47 p.m. EST from Launch Pad 39B. Mission objectives include replacing gyroscopes and an old computer, installing another solid state recorder, and replacing damaged insulation in the telescope. The mission is expected to last about 8 days and 21 hours. Discovery is expected to land at KSC Sunday, Dec. 26, at about 6:25 p.m. EST