Payload commander Steven Smith and mission specialist John Grunsfeld are installing Hubble's new gyroscopes. John Grunsfeld is preparing to insert the new radio transmitter in one of Hubble's bays.
Discovery slowly backs away from Hubble after the release.
Discovery's night-time landing also went smoothly. After months of delays because of wiring defects, an engine swap and replacement of a crushed liquid hydrogen line, NASA launched Discovery into space on Hubble Servicing Mission 3A in December 1999. This mission was especially important since Hubble had been in a so-called safe mode since November 1999. A minimum of three gyros are required to control where Hubble points in space. Hubble's gyroscopes have been the cause of some concern in the past few years.