Fumes on Mir, but U.S. astronaut feels safe

April 11, 1997
Web posted at: 1:02 p.m. EDT (1702 GMT) 

 CNN) -- Despite problems with the life support
system on the Russian space station, the U.S.
astronaut on board Mir said he feels safe. But Jerry
Linenger told reporters Friday that carbon dioxide
levels are too high and that the crew is suffering
from nasal congestion because of leaking fumes. 
(408K/18 sec. AIFF or WAV sound) 

Linenger, 42, who's been living on Mir since January, said he and his two Russian
crewmates -- Vasily Tsibliev and Alexander Lazutkin -- have spent the past few days
unloading an unmanned Russian supply ship that docked with Mir on Tuesday. 
(459K/22 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

They're trying to fix leaky coolant pipes and a broken oxygen generator, as well as
scrubbers that remove poisonous gas from the air. 

A backup air purification system is not working well because of the high humidity,
but the primary system, which was shut down last week because of leaks, is now
functioning again, the astronaut said. 

"It's a story here of a space station that we've kept going, or the Russians have kept
going, for 11 years," Linenger said. 

"They've done a lot of repairs up here, and so I'm hoping for the best that we're able
to fix things."