DATE=12/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242865
TITLE=SHUTTLE / STATION DEPARTURE (L)
BYLINE=DAVID MCALARY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-S SPACE SHUTTLE "ENDEAVOUR" CREW HAS CLOSED THE 
DOORS TO THE NEW INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ONE DAY AFTER 
BECOMING THE FIRST TO ENTER.  V-O-A SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT DAVID 
MCALARY REPORTS THEY LEFT THE ORBITAL COMPLEX VACANT UNTIL THE 
NEXT ASSEMBLY CREW ARRIVES.

TEXT:  THE SHUTTLE TEAM DID MORE WORK TO SET UP THE STATION 
FRIDAY, AHEAD ITS RELEASE SUNDAY FROM THE SHUTTLE'S CARGO BAY.  
THEY REMOVED ACCESS PANELS IN THE U-S "UNITY" MODULE AND UNPACKED
AND INSTALLED MORE HARDWARE FOR USE BY FUTURE STATION ASSEMBLY 
TEAMS.

ONE OF THE U-S SPACE AGENCY'S FLIGHT DIRECTORS FOR STATION, MARK 
KIRASICH ['KIR-UH-SITCH], SAYS MOST OF TASKS SINCE THE OPENING OF
THE STATION THURSDAY HAVE HELPED PREPARE "UNITY" AND THE RUSSIAN 
"ZARYA" MODULE FOR PERMANENT HABITATION.  

                      /// KIRASICH ACT ///

         THIS INCLUDES A VARIETY OF TASKS -- MOST NOTABLY 
         REMOVING A LOT OF THE MECHANISMS AND STRUCTURAL DEVICES 
         THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE TO ALLOW THE SPACECRAFT TO SURVIVE
         THE LAUNCH ENVIRONMENT -- THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.  WE SET
         UP SOME FOOT RESTRAINTS, SOME MOBILITY AIDS TO ALLOW 
         FUTURE CREWS TO GET AROUND EASIER INSIDE THE SPACE 
         STATION.  WE INSTALLED A WIRELESS ANTENNA SYSTEM INSIDE 
         AND THAT WILL ALLOW FUTURE CREWS TO COMMUNICATE WITH 
         EACH OTHER. 

                         /// END ACT ///

FOLLOWING ALL THIS CAME CLOSURE OF SIX HATCHES LEADING FROM 
"ZARYA," THROUGH "UNITY," TO THE AIRLOCK BETWEEN "UNITY" AND 
"ENDEAVOUR."

SHUTTLE COMMANDER BOB CABANA TOLD U-S MISSION CONTROL 
COMMUNICATOR CHRIS HADFIELD OF HIS RELUCTANCE TO LEAVE.

                       /// CABANA ACT ///

         THIS STATION IS GREAT, CHRIS.  I SURE WISH WE HAD MORE 
         TIME TO STAY AND GET MORE WORK DONE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE CREW HAS ONE MORE TASK BEFORE LEAVING THE STATION IN ORBIT.  
ASTRONAUTS JERRY ROSS AND JIM NEWMAN WILL GO ON THEIR THIRD 
SPACEWALK LATER TODAY [SATURDAY -- BEGINNING 2106 UTC / 4:06 P.M.
EST].  THEIR TOP GOALS ARE TO INSTALL HANDRAILS AND A TOOL KIT 
FOR FUTURE SPACEWALKING CONSTRUCTION CREWS, AND TO RELEASE THE 
SECOND OF TWO INCOMPLETELY-DEPLOYED ANTENNAS ON ZARYA.

                        /// REST OPT ///

AHEAD OF THAT SPACEWALK, THE NASA OFFICIAL OVERSEEING THE 
"ZARYA," DOUG DREWRY, SAYS THE MISSION TO ASSEMBLE THE U-S AND 
RUSSIAN SECTIONS HAS BEEN ALMOST PERFECT SO FAR.

                       /// DREWRY ACT ///

         THINGS HAVE GONE VERY WELL.  WE HAVE HAD A FEW MINOR 
         PROBLEMS -- THINGS WE HAVE CONSIDERED NON-CRITICAL,  
         THINGS THAT HAVE GIVEN US A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE
         THE FUNCTIONS BETWEEN BOTH FLIGHT CONTROL TEAMS AND THE 
         ON-ORBIT CREW.  WE'VE LEARNED A GREAT MORE ABOUT WORKING
         TOGETHER AND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THESE TASKS DONE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE NEXT SPACE-STATION ASSEMBLY TEAM FLIES UP ON THE SHUTTLE 
"DISCOVERY" IN MAY.  IN ALL, MORE THAN 40 MANNED MISSIONS ARE 
PLANNED TO BUILD THE STATION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DEM/WTW

11-Dec-98 9:10 PM EST (0210 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.