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November 17, 1995
Web posted at: 2:45 p.m. EST
From Correspondent John Holliman
SPACE CENTER, Houston (CNN) -- Friday was a busy last day of joint operations for the shuttle astronauts and Mir cosmonauts. As the combined Atlantis and Mir flew 245 miles above the earth, the crews completed loading supplies between the two craft.
When they were done, they chatted with United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
"I just want to express my gratitude that you have done this during the 50th anniversary of the United Nations," Boutros- Ghali said, "...we have the same objective. Your objective is peace and cooperation in outer space and our objective is peace and cooperation on earth." (185K AIFF sound or 185K WAV sound)
The crew held a news conference on Friday morning. Most of the questions were for German cosmonaut Thomas Reider, who said he will be sad when the astronauts leave Mir Saturday morning.
"We have a very good relationship," he said, "without any problems." (88K AIFF sound or 88K WAV sound)
The last order of public business Friday was a departure ceremony in space, which started with the shuttle commander and ended in song.
"We've come to the end of what I think has been the most successful mission I could have possibly imagined," said Commander Kenneth Cameron. "It's most difficult to say goodbye, and the Russians have a much better expression, which is "do svidaniye" -- until we see each other again." (
Both crews launched into a rendition of the 1960s hit "Those Were the Days" and then helped the Mir crew paste Atlantis mission patches on Mir's bulkhead walls after the short ceremony.
NASA officials termed the docking mission -- Atlantis brought supplies to Mir and will return to earth with equipment and experiment results -- a success.
"I feel fantastic," said flight director Bill Reeves. "This has been a really great mission."
Atlantis will undock from Mir Saturday morning and fly around it. The shuttle's landing is planned for Florida on Monday morning.
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