[GioFX]

1253 GMT (8:53 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 hours and holding. Countdown clocks have entered a planned three-hour built-in hold in advance of today's launch of space shuttle Discovery. This is a standard hold in every shuttle countdown. However, NASA has extended it from the usual two hours to three hours to give the final inspection team more time to complete their ice and debris checks of the shuttle after fueling. The team will be sent to pad 39B to begin the inspections once fueling of Discovery is completed.

Also awaiting dispatch to the pad is the orbiter closeout crew, which is the team that will assist the astronauts during boarding.