Since it could not be refuelled, and no longer had the fuel to sustain manned operations, Salyut 5 was deorbited on 8 August 1977, and broke up as it reentered the Earth's atmosphere.

Soviet officials denied that the ferment had anything to do with the decision announced last week to suspend manned operations of the Mir space station.

A myth arose that early guidance and stabilisation problems were resolved by a daring test flight by Hanna Reitsch in a V-1 modified for manned operation.

It consists of a range of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) and associated Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) to counter terrorist actions in lieu of manned operations.

Computer's been shoved aside and it's a manned operation.

Trains can be run in configurations of 2 to 10 cars using manned or unmanned operations.

"This increase," it warned, "represents a potential threat to the safety of manned operations in space."

The water not only makes the area more endurable for manned operations but also insures that none of the twisted metal wreckage will be hot enough to re-ignite oil and gas once a fire is extinguished.

Ordinarily automated, the Titan's dorsally-mounted sensor pod was configured for temporary manned operation at the discretion of the ship's senior science officer when a less orthodox and more hands-on approach to an investigation was deemed appropriate.