Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery for Servicing Mission 3A

Beginning the 96th mission of the STS program, the Space Shuttle Discovery clears the launch structure and rockets toward the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Liftoff occurred at 7:50 p.m. (EST) on December 19, 1999, from Launch Pad 39B. Onboard were Curtis L. Brown, Jr.; Scott J. Kelly; Steven L. Smith; C. Michael Foale; John M. Grunsfeld; Claude Nicollier; and Jean-Francois Clervoy. Switzerland's Nicollier and France's Clervoy represented the European Space Agency (ESA).