Russians train cosmonauts for Mir destruction mishap
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

MOSCOW, JAN 12: Russian cosmonauts who could be sent to the Russian space station Mir if plans for its destruction go wrong, were training today in a flight simulator near Moscow, Russian TV images showed.

A cargo ship, Progress, is due to be launched on January 18 to give the Soviet-era space station the final nudge that will alter its course and send it hurtling back to Earth on either February 27 or 28.

But fears the hazardous ditching operation may not go smoothly have led to the training of two emergency rescue teams. The first team, composed of cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Nikolay Budaryn, were simulating a loss of contact with earth followed by a dysfunction in the station’s docking system.The Russian space agency said the decision on whether to send the rescue teams will only be taken after the launch of Progress on January 18.

Progress was initially due to be sent into orbit on January 16 but the launch was put back for two days for technical reasons and lack of funds.

The 130-tonne space station, which was only built to last up to five years but has been in orbit for 15, is expected to disintegrate as it re-enters the atmosphere, most of its components burning up in the denser air and the remainder splashing down into the Pacific.

Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.