Published: 7/24/1998

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) does not intend to send a Space Shuttle to help bring the Mir orbiting station down from orbit, a NASA spokeswoman at the Mission Control Centre outside Moscow said, "NASA does not plan to send a Shuttle to the Mir station at this time and as far as I am aware there are no discussions at all to do so," Kathline Maliga said. "Even if they (NASA) did make a decision it would not be in the short term, as it takes many months to get a Shuttle trip like that ready," Maliga said. To bring Mir down from orbit in a controlled way, several cargo spacecraft would be needed, but Russia lacks the funds and some sources at the Russian Space Agency (RSV) are talking about possible US assistance. One of Russia's most experienced cosmonauts, Alexander Serebrov, said that Mir's life should be prolonged as much as possible, so as not to cede Space to the Americans."It would be a sin to drown the (Mir) station in the ocean. Sending a Shuttle there would cost several million dollars, but Mir's end would mean that only the US flag will flutter in space," he said. (AS798.3) (VZ)

Article ID: 227