SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS002
ARLS002 Ham-astronauts swap spots aboard Mir

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Space Bulletin 002  ARLS002
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT  January 24, 1997
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS002
ARLS002 Ham-astronauts swap spots aboard Mir

Ham-Astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, has become the fourth American
to occupy a position on the Russian Space Station Mir.  Following
the docking of Atlantis to the Russian space station on January 14,
Linenger officially traded places with fellow ham-Astronaut John
Blaha, KC5TZQ, who has since returned to Earth.  ''We're truly in the
space station business,'' said Blaha, who completed 118 days as a Mir
crew member.

Linenger spent his 42nd birthday aboard Mir on January 16.  ''I could
not think of a nicer place to have my birthday,'' he told Dave
Larsen, N6CO, during a packet QSO January 17.  Linenger will remain
aboard the space station until May.

It's not known how active on ham radio Linenger expects to be during
his stay aboard Mir.
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