Contact with Mir Resumed, Says Official

Contact with Mir Resumed, Says Official

---

The Russia Mission Control Center outside Moscow said Tuesday it restored contact with the Mir space station in the afternoon, but a confirmation is needed to be done very soon.

"We managed to restore the radio connection with Mir at 3:45 p. m. Moscow time (1245 GMT), which lasted for 17 minutes as we planned," said a Mission Control spokesman.

Both the Mir and the Progress cargo ship, docked to the orbiting station, replied to the center's call soon after 4:00 p.m. Moscow time (1300 GMT) Tuesday, Valery Lyndin, a center representative, told reporters.

"We got down link telemetry from both spacecraft, but it is better to wait for another session at 5:20-5:36 p.m. (1420-1436GMT) to confirm the regained contact," he said.

"I can't assure you that the next test will be successful... Let's wait and see," he said, adding that it is still unclear what caused the Mir to lose wireless contact with the mission control center Monday for the first time in its 14-year-long existence.