DATE=1/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225032
TITLE=RUSSIA/MIR (L)
BYLINE=MICHELE KELEMEN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS HAVE COMPLETED A THREE-HOUR
SPACEWALK OUTSIDE THE SPACE STATION MIR. AS V-O-A MOSCOW
CORRESPONDENT MICHELE KELEMEN REPORTS THE TWO FOUND A DEFECTIVE
LOCK THAT HAS BEEN CAUSING SOME TROUBLE.
TEXT: COSMONAUTS ANATOLY SOLOVYOV AND PAVEL VINOGRADOV FINISHED
THEIR WORK IN HALF THE TIME EXPECTED. THE HEAD OF MISSION
CONTROL DESCRIBED THE THREE HOUR SPACEWALK AS A TOTAL SUCCESS.
/// SOLOVYOV ACT IN RUSSIAN, ESTABLISH AND FADE ///
VLADIMIR SOLOVYOV, WHO IS NOT RELATED TO THE COSMONAUT, SAID
THE CREW FULFILLED ALL OF THEIR TASKS.
THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY A HATCH DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE
PROPERLY AFTER A SPACEWALK IN NOVEMBER. THEY FOUND ONE OF THE 10
MAIN LOCKS ON THE DOOR WAS BROKEN AND THAT IS WHY AIR WAS LEAKING
THROUGH. MISSION CONTROL SAYS IT WILL PROBABLY BE POSSIBLE TO
MAKE REPAIRS FROM INSIDE THE SPACE STATION.
DURING THE SPACEWALK, THE COSMONAUTS ALSO RETRIEVED U-S-MADE
OPTICAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT WHICH WAS INSTALLED OUTSIDE MIR LAST
APRIL. U-S ASTRONAUT DAVID WOLF STAYED ON BOARD MIR AND FILMED
HIS CREWMATES DURING THE MISSION. HE IS EXPECTED TO GO OUT ON
THE NEXT SPACEWALK WEDNESDAY WITH COSMONAUT SOLOVYOV.
ANATOLY SOLOVYOV HAS ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN 70 HOURS IN OPEN
SPACE, MAKING HIM THE MOST EXPERIENCED SPACE WALKER IN HISTORY.
DURING MANY OF HIS RECENT OUTINGS, HE HAS BEEN HELPING RESTORE
POWER TO MIR, WHICH HAS SUFFERED REPEATED TROUBLES SINCE A CARGO
VESSEL CRASHED INTO THE SPACE STATION LAST JUNE.
MIR WAS EXPECTED TO LAST ONLY FIVE YEARS IN SPACE. IT IS TO MARK
ITS 12TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH. (SIGNED)
NEB/MK/KL
09-Jan-98 9:11 AM EST (1411 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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