Space Shuttle Executes 2nd Linkup to Mir

Astronauts guided shuttle Atlantis to the Russian space station Mir and docked early Wednesday, neatly executing the risky maneuver 245 miles above Earth.

It was the second linkup of Atlantis and Mir, but was considered more complicated--and dangerous--than the first because of the 15-foot docking tunnel jutting out of the shuttle cargo bay.

Kenneth Cameron, Atlantis’ commander, pulled within 170 feet, then 30 feet, of Mir as both spacecraft hurtled around Earth at 17,500 mph. All the while, Russian voices could be heard on Mir’s radio.

Cameron slowly steered Atlantis up under Mir, avoiding the station’s maze of solar panels.

A collision could have breached the two pressurized spacecraft and killed all eight men aboard.

About 50 NASA personnel, including astronauts headed to Mir next year and managers of the planned international space station, watched the docking on huge TV screens at the Russian Mission Control outside Moscow.

On Tuesday, the five astronauts installed the docking tunnel in Atlantis’ cargo bay, clearing the way for the linkup.

The docking tunnel will be left behind on Mir when Atlantis pulls away Saturday. It will make the next five Atlantis-Mir dockings easier.

Despite the federal government shutdown and the furlough of thousands of employees, NASA provided live TV coverage of the docking and planned extensive coverage for the rest of the eight-day shuttle mission.