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Foale Discusses Experience on Mir

Michael Foale feared for his life on the station for one second when the Progress spacecraft crashed into Spektr in June, but otherwise enjoyed his more than four months on the trouble-plagued station earlier this year, he told reporters at a press conference October 29.
     "I would say that 99 percent of the time I was basically having a good time," Foale said. "This may seem surprising to some people."
     Foale said his only moment of concern was the instant when the Progress spacecraft collided with Spektr. When it was clear the accident wasn't immediately life-threatening, Foale said he concerned himself with helping his Russian crewmates stabilize the situation on Mir.
     "One of the things I learned during this whole flight is that the Russians are just so resourceful and resilient," Foale said. He said, though, he was concerned about Vasily Tsibliev, the station commander, who become despondent after the accident, fearing that he would be blamed for the situation.
     Otherwise, Foale said, "we were alive, things were not so bad for us." Foale said he had good relationships with Tsibliev and Alexander Lazutkin, who was also on the station at the time of the accident.
     Foale said the U.S. had made the right decision to continue the series of joint Mir missions with Russia, and said the station and the Soyuz spacecraft available for any evacuations were in good condition.
     "The mission changed my life," Foale said. "I've been strengthened by it."

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