ADRIFT IN SPACE

RUSSIA'S SPACE STATION SUFFERS ANOTHER DISASTER. SHOULD THE U.S. CALL IT QUITS?

When astronaut Michael Foale joined two cosmonauts aboard the Russian space station Mir in May, he expected to spend most of his time carrying out scientific experiments. It hasn't quite worked out that way. On June 25 an out-of-control supply ship slammed into Mir, knocking out power, ruining many of Foale's experiments and making the three spacefarers scramble to perform emergency repairs. Then, early last week, Russian commander Vasily Tsibliyev announced he was having heart problems. He couldn't perform the more extensive repairs the ship needed, and if NASA was willing, the Russian space agency wanted Foale to put on a...

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