DATE=5/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SHUTTLE-SPACE STATION (L)
NUMBER=2-262734
BYLINE=DAVID MCALARY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
INTERNET=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The International Space Station is in a higher
orbit, thanks to a push by the U-S space shuttle
"Atlantis." V-O-A Science Correspondent David McAlary
tells us that the boost took place as U-S and Russian
shuttle crewmembers worked another day to restore the
station to top condition.
TEXT: The Atlantis crew fired the shuttle's jet
thrusters repeatedly for an hour to raise the station
about 16 kilometers. Shuttle Flight Director Phil
Engelauf says they will perform the same orbit boost
two more times in the next two days.
/// ENGELAUF ACTUALITY ///
That went just exactly as scheduled. Everything was
perfect. We got the altitude targets and used the
same amount of propellant that we had forecast. That
all went really, really well.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
The orbit boosts are necessary to prevent the station
from crashing to earth because of friction with the
upper atmosphere. The drag is stronger than usual
because the sun is emitting more particles as it
reaches the most intense phase of activity in its 11-
year cycle. By the end of this week, the station's
final orbit will be 45 kilometers higher -- enough to
meet the next Russian module to be launched in July.
That is a unit called the Service Module, itself
intended to provide the necessary altitude boosts.
The shuttle had to perform this lift because the
Russian component is more than two years overdue in
space. Russian financial problems and troubles with
the launch rocket have kept it grounded. When the
Service Module is finally in place, it will house the
living quarters and a laboratory for the crews that
occupy the station.
Meanwhile, U-S astronauts Jim Voss and Susan Helms and
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachev performed more station
maintenance. Inside the Russian "Zarya" module, they
replaced another dead battery and expired fire
extinguishers. They also installed new smoke
detectors.
/// HILL ACTUALITY ///
The Atlantis crew is making all this maintenance that
they're doing for us look easy and progressing right
on time.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Space Station Flight Director Paul Hill says the
reward is worth the effort..
/// HILL ACTUALITY ///
All of this is expected to culminate, of course, at
the end of the mission with a pristine space station,
when the shuttle undocks to pretty much get it back in
the same condition we had it in a year ago and easily
have the ability to dock to the service module here in
two months.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
The station is to be ready for occupation by the first
expeditionary crew due to arrive in October. (SIGNED)
NEB/DEM/WD
24-May-2000 04:58 AM EDT (24-May-2000 0858 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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