Atlantis prepares to undock from Mir

'Bye, you guys'

January 19, 1997
Web posted at: 10:30 a.m. EST

(CNN) -- After five days of linked flight, the crews of space shuttle Atlantis and Russian space station Mir bid final farewells Sunday morning and closed the hatches between the spacecraft.

"Unfortunately, we are saying goodbye to the excellent Atlantis crew," Mir commander Valeri Korzun said during a televised goodbye party. "We wish them a safe landing."

The two crews then exchanged hugs and made final departure preparations. Atlantis is scheduled to undock from Mir at 9:15 p.m. EST Sunday and land Wednesday at Kennedy Space Center.

But NASA officials were considering extending the flight by one day to complete a test of an experimental space treadmill. Mission managers put off a decision until Monday.

For astronaut John Blaha -- aboard Mir since September --, the return home means a spicy home-cooked meal by mom and welcome greetings from his wife, Brenda, of 30 years.

"Like I've said the whole time, I miss my wife so I'm looking forward to getting back together with her," he said.

But if a rocket ship were leaving from Mir to Mars, a laughing Blaha said, "I would leave right from the station and not come back."

On a more serious note, Blaha thanked his cosmonaut crewmates for their hospitality and stressed the importance of NASA's cooperative efforts with Russia. "This program is not only important for space exploration, but also for the relationship between the countries."

The 54-year-old former combat and test pilot was the third American to live on Mir. He was replaced by astronaut Jerry Linenger, 42, a doctor who will spend the next four months conducting station experiments.

"Bye, you guys," Linenger said. "Have a safe trip home."

Linenger then peeled off his olive-colored shuttle shirt and tossed it at his departing U.S. crewmates.

"I don't need that anymore," he quipped.

Reuters contributed to this report.

 

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Related stories:

• Contact: Atlantis docks with Mir - January 15, 1997
• Atlantis blasts off for Mir rendezvous - January 12, 1997
• Atlantis slated for pre-dawn liftoff - January 11, 1997
• Atlantis undocks from fourth Mir docking - September 23, 1996

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• Space Station Mir Info Page
• NASA Shuttle STS-81 Mission Page
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  • Meet the Crew

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