Space Shuttle Heads For Mir Rendezvous

Fri., May 16, 1997

Compiled From Wire Services

Space shuttle Atlantis sped toward Russia’s orbiting Mir space station Thursday to deliver urgently needed repair equipment and a fresh American astronaut to replace the weary one on board.

The shuttle turned night into day as it blasted off before sunrise with a crew of seven, riding a spectacular column of flame into space.

Atlantis is expected to reach Mir late today for the sixth docking with the space station.

The aging 11-year-old outpost has suffered numerous breakdowns and a fire since Atlantis dropped off astronaut Jerry Linenger in January. Although the situation has improved in the past few weeks, it still is serious because Mir’s life-support systems lack functioning spare equipment.

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Space Shuttle Heads For Mir Rendezvous

Jesse Tinsley

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