DATE=9/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SHUTTLE UNDOCKING (L)
NUMBER=2-266706
BYLINE=DAVID MCALARY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
INTERNET=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S space shuttle "Atlantis" and its seven
astronauts and cosmonauts departed the International
Space Station early Monday after six days of making it
a home for future long-duration crews. V-O-A Science
Correspondent David McAlary reports.
TEXT: Pilot Scott Altman pulled Atlantis away from
the station, as springs on the docking mechanism
gently pushed the shuttle away. The U-S and Russian
crew then flew around the outpost twice to take
photographs to bring back to Earth for inspection by
U-S and Russian engineers. In Moscow, Russian flight
controllers maneuvered the station back to its normal
orientation toward Earth.
The Atlantis team backed out of the station Sunday,
after six days there -- turning out lights and closing
hatches behind them.
They left the station nearly three-thousand kilograms
heavier - by Earth measurements -- after stocking it
with hardware and supplies the first long-duration
crew will need to live and work for four months. That
occupation is scheduled for November. The station now
has food, water, medical and hygiene supplies and
office and exercise equipment.
The U-S space agency official in charge of
international operations aboard the station -- Bob
Cabana [kuh-BAA-nuh] -- says the Atlantis crewmembers
also took on roles as cleaners, plumbers, electricians
and cable installers, to set up the orbital research
facility.
/// CABANA ACTUALITY ///
Well, this crew certainly has laid out the red carpet
for the first crew to come aboard the International
Space Station this year. I think they accomplished
everything that we asked them to do; everything we
wished they could do; and I think about everything we
dreamed that they could do.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Not only was the workload during this mission busy;
but, so is the schedule of future U-S shuttle launches
to the space station. There are seven more planned
over the next 12 months -- the busiest timetable since
1985. With such a crowded calendar, U-S space agency
officials have warned the public not to expect
perfection on every mission needed to assemble the
outpost. Mr. Cabana repeated the caution.
/// CABANA ACTUALITY ///
The pace of operations is going to pick up rapidly. I
think we've spoiled folks with the extreme success
that we've had lately on space shuttle missions. But
I think we have to be prepared for not accomplishing
everything in the future. When that happens, I think
the team will come together and we'll be able to
handle it down the road [in the future.]
/// END ACTUALITY ///
The next shuttle mission is scheduled to take off for
the space station October fifth. The shuttle
"Discovery" and its crew are to deliver a connecting
tunnel for future modules and install an exterior
truss that will support a large communications
antenna, U-S solar panels and fuel-saving gyroscopes.
Now that the shuttle Atlantis is finished at the
station, it is due to land at Kennedy Space Center in
Florida on Wednesday [3:56 am EDT]. (SIGNED)
NEB/DEM/WD
18-Sep-2000 04:07 AM LOC (18-Sep-2000 0807 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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