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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mir Crew Stocks Supplies From Cargo Ship

Associated Press

The Russian-American crew aboard the damaged Mir space station worked Wednesday to finish unloading a batch of supplies that contain everything from a shaving razor to vital repair equipment.

The task, begun Tuesday, involved many trips to the visiting Progress cargo ship for U.S. astronaut Michael Foale and his Russian colleagues, Vasily Tsibliyev and Alexander Lazutkin. The cargo includes more than 2 tons of food, water, oxygen, scientific gear and personal items.

The crew was happy to restock shelves and get the equipment needed to restore the Mir’s power supply, which was cut by almost half in a June 25 collision during the previous cargo drop-off.

Some real exercise also was scheduled Wednesday - routine exercise to keep the crew in shape.

All three crew members are in good health as they prepare for the repair mission on the damaged Spektr module, tentatively set for July 17, said Igor Goncharov, a flight controller at Russia’s Mission Control.

Mir’s Spektr module was punctured in the collision. The crew had to quickly seal off the Spektr to save the rest of the station from the deadly vacuum of space. Power cables linking the Spektr’s solar batteries with the station’s main energy supply system were disconnected in the process.