Why are some cosmonauts very active on Mirs ham radio equipment while others barely use it at all?
Different people have different interests. Some folks enjoy using the amateur radio more than others. In some cases Russian cosmonauts enjoy using the amateur radio to practice their English skills by talking to amateurs around the world. In other cases they may not feel at ease speaking with somebody who speaks rapidly in a foreign language. (Yes, English is a foreign language!) If you do speak any Russian – even a little – it doesn’t hurt to use it if you are talking to one of the Russian cosmonauts. Some of the Americans aboard Mir have enjoyed using the amateur radio to talk to hams in the United States and around the world, others have used the radio primarily to talk to their family and personal friends. It’s up to them to choose how much they want to use the radio, and who they want to talk to.
