DATE=12/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242807
TITLE=SHUTTLE / STATION ENTRANCE (L)
BYLINE=DAVID MCALARY
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  THE U-S SPACE SHUTTLE "ENDEAVOUR" CREW HAS ENTERED THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JOINING THE 
FIRST TWO MODULES EARLIER THIS WEEK.  THEY ARE OUTFITTING IT WITH
NEW EQUIPMENT FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS, AS V-O-A SCIENCE 
CORRESPONDENT DAVID MCALARY REPORTS.

TEXT:  WIELDING SEARCHLIGHTS, U-S SHUTTLE COMMANDER BOB CABANA 
AND RUSSIAN COSMONAUT SERGEI KRIKALEV LED THE WAY INTO THE 
DARKENED, FLEDGLING STATION IN A DISPLAY OF INTERNATIONAL 
COOPERATION.

THEY FIRST ENTERED THE U-S-BUILT "UNITY" MODULE THROUGH A SHUTTLE
HATCH DOOR.  FIVE HATCHES AND 90 MINUTES LATER, THEY WERE IN THE 
HEART OF THE ADJOINING RUSSIAN "ZARYA" SECTION TO WHICH THE 
"ENDEAVOUR" CREW JOINT "UNITY" EARLIER THIS WEEK.

AN EXULTANT COMMANDER CABANA BECAME THE FIRST TO USE THE CALL 
SIGN "INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION" WHEN RADIOING TO U-S MISSION 
CONTROL IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.

               // CABANA - MISSION CONTROL ACT //

         [CABANA:]   HOUSTON, FROM THE DEEPEST PART OF THE 
                     INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FROM 
                     "ENDEAVOUR," WE'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT
                     TO COMMEMORATE AN HISTORIC MOMENT IN SPACE 
                     EXPLORATION -- THE BEGINNING OF THE 
                     INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, WHERE COUNTRIES
                     FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE EXPLORING 
                     TOGETHER IN SPACE FOR EVERYONE'S BENEFIT -- 
                     WHERE WE'RE GOING TO LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER 
                     AND DO EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN TO 
                     EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE IN ALL AREAS OF 
                     SCIENCE.  IT'S JUST FANTASTIC.

         [MISSION CONTROL:]   ROGER, THAT.  YOU'VE OPENED THE 
                              DOORS TO A WHOLE NEW ERA IN 
                              SPACEFLIGHT.  IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU
                              THERE ATOP ZARYA.  CONGRATULATIONS 
                              TO THE WHOLE CREW.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE SHUTTLE CREW'S TASK TODAY IN "UNITY" IS TO INSTALL PORTABLE 
FANS AND LIGHTS, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL ELECTRONICS GEAR AND 
CABLES TO CONNECT TO ANTENNAS THAT A SPACEWALKING TEAM INSTALLED 
EARLIER THURSDAY.  IN ZARYA, THEY ARE CHECKING VIDEO 
TELECONFERENCING EQUIPMENT, PHOTOGRAPHING THE INTERIOR, AND 
REPLACING FILTERS AND A MALFUNCTIONING BATTERY CHARGING UNIT.

THE ASTRONAUTS ARE ALSO TRANSFERRING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FROM 
"ENDEAVOUR" FOR USE BY FUTURE SPACE STATION INHABITANTS.

                        /// REST OPT ///

ONE MORE SPACEWALK IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, FEATURING TASKS 
THAT PREPARE FOR FUTURE STATION ASSEMBLY WORK.  IN TWO PREVIOUS 
SPACEWALKS THIS WEEK, ASTRONAUTS JERRY ROSS AND JIM NEWMAN 
BROUGHT THE STATION TO LIFE BY INSTALLING POWER AND 
COMMUNICATIONS GEAR THAT CONNECT THE TWO MODULES TO EACH OTHER 
ELECTRONICALLY, AND LINK "UNITY" TO U-S MISSION CONTROL.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/DEM/WTW

10-Dec-98 6:23 PM EST (2323 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.