NATION : Space Shuttle Telescope Works

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Flying within sight of the Soviet Mir space station today, the astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia finally coaxed a balky $50-million telescope pointing system into action and began around-the-clock science observations.

“It appears at this time we have a good healthy payload,” said mission manager Jack Jones. “All the instruments are up and working, and all the pointing systems appear to be performing (normally) at this time.”

“I have to tell you, it’s a big goose egg,” mission scientist Ted Gull said of the flight’s science results over the first two days. “But . . . I think within the next day or two, we’ll be over the 50% hump and observing effectively.”

As Jones and Gull were briefing reporters, Columbia passed within 33 miles of the Mir space station just a few hours after a Soyuz capsule carrying two cosmonauts and a Japanese journalist docked with the orbital outpost.