(8 Jul 1998) English/Nat
The last American to live aboard the Russian Space Station MIR, has talked openly about his experiences.
For two of MIR's 12 year history, American astronauts joined their Russian counterparts on the station.
Both countries agree MIR has been a mixed success, bringing both triumph and near tragedy.
Just over three weeks ago, Space Shuttle Discovery returned to Earth, wrapping up NASA's final mission to MIR.
Andy Thomas spent 141 days in orbit - 130 of which he was a MIR crewman.
He was the seventh and final American to live aboard MIR, in a programme that served as a prelude to the international space station mission, which begins next summer.
At a news conference from the Johnson Space Centre, Thomas said the MIR mission was a key learning experience.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Throughout the course of the Phase One programme, we've learned the mechanics of how you service and operate a space station, how you arrange and load a vehicle, launch it, rendezvous, dock with a space station, transfer goods, transfer crews and all those sort of mechanics of day to day operations which we wouldn't have otherwise. We've also learned - it shouldn't be underestimated - how to work, collaboratively, with the Russians, because we have different cultures, different languages and that itself is a big accomplishment."
SUPER CAPTION: Andy Thomas, U-S astronaut
It was the unexpected aboard MIR that tested the precarious link between NASA and Russia's underfunded space agency.
The toughest tests came in 1997, with a rash of near disasters.
Among them, an on-board fire, a MIR collision with a Russian supply capsule and repeated computer failures.
But Thomas said the difficulties of the mission only brought the team of international astronauts closer.
NASA and Russian co-operation with MIR was touted as a step towards linking former Cold War enemies in what NASA calls Phase One of an effort to put a new international space station in Earth orbit.
And Thomas said as a result of the good relationship developed aboard MIR, the next phase can move forward with high expectations.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is however very important that we look at what we do in this co-operative programme objectively and we don't judge the co-operation we have with the Russians based on the prejudices of the Cold War era which many of us grew up in. We must judge it on its own merits and by the standards of today."
SUPER CAPTION: Andy Thomas, U-S astronaut
In June 1999, Russian space officials plan to let MIR burn up in the atmosphere, forcing it to fall out of orbit.
NASA says it accomplished all that it can from MIR, and has no plans for another visit.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"There's no credible plan at this time for another shuttle visit to the MIR. That's not to say that an emergency situation might not cause us to want to do that, but fundamentally, from the point of view of what we contribute to the de-orbit scenario, there's not a lot we've got to offer."
SUPER CAPTION: Jim Van Lack, Deputy Program Manager, MIR Phase One
The next continuous U-S presence in space will commence in the summer of 1999, when an American-led crew moves into the international space station.
Now all efforts will turn to building the new space outpost.
Construction is to begin in orbit at the end of the year.
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