DATE=7/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-252071
TITLE=RUSSIA/MIR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO COSMONAUTS ABOARD THE SPACE STATION MIR ARE
CONDUCTING WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A SIX-HOUR SPACEWALK TO CHECK
FOR LEAKS IN THE AGING SPACE STATION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT EVE
CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE LAST MANEUVERS
BEFORE THE PRESENT CREW -- MOST LIKELY MIR'S FINAL OCCUPANTS --
RETURNS TO EARTH IN AUGUST.
TEXT: COSMONAUTS VIKTOR AFANASYEV AND SERGEI AVDEYEV BEGAN THE
SPACEWALK BY SEARCHING FOR THE SOURCE OF AN AIR LEAK WHICH HAS
BEEN CAUSING THE ORBITER TO LOSE PRESSURE. THE TWO WILL ALSO
INSTALL AN ANTENNA OUTSIDE THE STATION.
THIS SPACEWALK MAY BE ONE OF MIR'S LAST. ITS PRESENT THREE-MAN
CREW IS EXPECTED TO DEPART IN LATE AUGUST. AFTER THAT, THE
STATION WILL STAY IN ORBIT UNMANNED, UNLESS SPACE OFFICIALS RAISE
ENOUGH MONEY TO SEND UP ANOTHER CREW.
SO FAR, THEIR FUND-RAISING ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED TO BRING IN THE
CASH NEEDED TO KEEP MIR IN ORBIT. IT IS LIKELY THE SPACE STATION
WILL HAVE TO BE CONTROLLED FROM THE GROUND AND SLOWLY BROUGHT OUT
OF ORBIT NEXT YEAR.
ABANDONING MIR WILL BE PAINFUL FOR SPACE EXPERTS WHO HAVE LOYALLY
DEFENDED THE FORMER SUPERPOWER'S LAST REMAINING SYMBOL OF SPACE
GLORY. BUT EVEN ONE OF RUSSIA'S TOP SPACE OFFICIALS SAID THIS
WEEK THAT THE STATION SHOULD BE SCRAPPED BEFORE ANY SERIOUS
ACCIDENTS OCCUR.
/// REST OPT ///
THE AGING SPACE STATION HAS A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS, INCLUDING AN
ON-BOARD FIRE AND A COLLISION WITH A CARGO RESUPPLY SHIP IN 1997.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MIR HAS BEEN RUNNING SMOOTHLY, BUT
RUSSIAN SPACE OFFICIALS ARE UNDER PRESSURE FROM NASA AND FROM THE
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO GIVE UP MIR AND FOCUS RESOURCES ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROJECT. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/GE/WTW
23-Jul-99 11:43 AM EDT (1543 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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