> If their
> automated systems are too stupid to be able to dock without rupturing a
> space station, they must be socialist
Much as I hate to defend the socialists, the recent crash was the result
of a test of the remote *manual* docking system. The automated system has
worked well (or at least safely) for years, but the Russian space program
can no longer afford to buy the automatic docking units. Hence if Mir
stays in space they will soon have to rely on this manual system for all
operations.
Mark
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