Voice communications between the crew of Russia's space station and ground control will no longer be relayed live to the media during critical operations such as spacewalks. Mission directors have been increasingly frustrated by inaccurate and hyped stories about operational problems on the Mir, particularly the coverage of the collision of a Progress tanker last June (Flight International, 6-12 August, 1997). During a spacewalk on 6 April, the damaged solar panel on the Spektr module was secured.
Source: Flight International