(29 Jun 1997) English/Nat

NASA re-affirmed on Saturday that the Space Station Mir would continue with its science programme after last week's collision with an unmanned supply shuttle knocked out part of the power and depressurised a module.

Ground controllers are in the process of putting together a repair mission.

But one of Mir's cosmonauts is apparently sceptical, thinking it will be impossible for a man in a space-suit to fit into the module.

NASA reported on Saturday it would continue with it mission with the Mir Space Station, following Wednesday's collision with a supply ship.

The struggling crew has managed to restore power to a cooling unit,
but conditions are still less than ideal.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We don't have all the information yet and are still assessing it, and we are also looking at new experiments that we could possibly prepare for a flight up to the Mir. But right now the preliminary assessment is that yes there is plenty of science programme left, there are plenty of opportunities for operation experience and for technology demonstration, for demonstrating what we are going to do together on I-S-S. So our current plan is to continue the missions. If something came up to change that assessment we would certainly look at it very seriously and of course will let you know."
SUPER CAPTION: Frank Culbertson, NASA Programme Manager

Moscow is devising a plan for two cosmonauts to take a risky space-walk to enter the airless Spektr module and hook up cables to solar batteries which could run the station.

Some media reports have quoted an unnamed Russian crew member as being sceptical about the plan, and suggesting it will be impossible for a man in a pressurised space-suit to fit through the hatch into the damaged module.

NASA, however believes the module can be fixed and the science mission can continue.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well there are lots of reasons for continuing what we are doing. One is that there is still useful activity that can be done up there once we complete the repairs and once the Russians particularly get more power to the module. The fact that we have people operating there, I think is a statement of what our capabilities are and as long as the Mir is viable and safe, we should continue operating with them. At some point it will be retired and that should be done in an orderly fashion and with a good plan on how that will be executed and we will work with the Russians as necessary on that. For the time being, I think the important thing is to learn from this experience, to figure how to make the repairs and recover from the situation because who is to say we won't have to do that some other time the future on another space craft."
SUPER CAPTION: Frank Culbertson, NASA Programme Manager

On board the Mir astronaut Michael Foale said his own personal belongings are out of reach in the module that had to be sealed off when it was ruptured in a collision with an unmanned supply shuttle.

But he managed to scrounge up a few things and life was getting back to normal again.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The biggest picture in all of this is that we did lose a module out of this event, which is the inspector module. There is the chance the power may be restored to that module in the next few months and that quite a lot of American equipment was left in that module along with my personal affects. Since then I have managed to buy myself a toothbrush and toothpaste and some clothes and even a pair of shoes to run with. Life is getting back to normal for me as far as everyday living."




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