Almost 30 years later, Jerry Linenger launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

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Despite widespread misgivings, yet another American -- Michael Foale -- was placed on Mir when astronaut Jerry Linenger's 4 month-long tour came to an end last month.

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Former astronaut Jerry Linenger, who was aboard the Russian space station Mir during a dangerous fire in 1997, told the Associated Press news agency that a loss of communication with the ground "is not a terrible thing" as long as there is no crisis going on.

BBC: Nasa back in contact with the International Space Station