Moscow, 26 August 1997 (RFE/RL) - Russian space officials say the Mir space station began receiving power today from three solar panels on the Spektr module for the first time since the research module was damaged in a collision two months ago.
Cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov and Anatoly Solovyov reconnected the three solar panels on Spektr during a spacewalk Friday. But full capacity could not be restored because a fourth solar panel was damaged in the June 25 collision with an incoming cargo craft.
In another development, the Russian-U.S. crew have solved a potentially serious problem by fixing the main and backup oxygen generating systems.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin said Mir "lives and will live" despite suggestions that it be scrapped.
Cosmonauts Pavel Vinogradov and Anatoly Solovyov reconnected the three solar panels on Spektr during a spacewalk Friday. But full capacity could not be restored because a fourth solar panel was damaged in the June 25 collision with an incoming cargo craft.
In another development, the Russian-U.S. crew have solved a potentially serious problem by fixing the main and backup oxygen generating systems.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin said Mir "lives and will live" despite suggestions that it be scrapped.