1.   Scientists are concerned that a special event, such as a sunspot or supernova might occur during this long period of communications blackout.

2.   The negotiations began Wednesday at the National Mediation Board offices and are under a communications blackout.

3.   The NMB has imposed a communication blackout on the talks, which have been moved outside of Georgia.

4.   With the communications blackout depriving them of clues, mission engineers declined to speculate on what possibly went wrong.

5.   The Rahanwein Resistance Army, the militia controlling Baidoa, has not given any reason for the communications blackout.

6.   The Russian ground stations provide the bulk of coverage with Mir, thus the long and frequent periods of communication blackout.