[Calvin Locke]

By OSHA standards, that particular Russian module is considered a health hazard for hearing damage.

The article I read was referring to the machinery, but I don't recall anything about expansion/contraction.

[Thrownatbirth]

I don't recall anything about expansion/contraction.

You could clearly hear the metallic groan during the first minute as Mir rose above the horizon; a little less so as Mir receded and set. There was definitely thermal stress on the craft that was quite audible on her downlink. In between, she was loud and clear for 4 or 5 minutes while overhead.