Subject: MIRNEWS.355
From: "C.M. van den Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Cc: <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 1997 10:28:56 +0200

MIRNEWS.355                                         19 APRIL 1997

MIR-routine:  

Immediately after the opening of the hatches to Progress-M34 the crew began
 to unload the most important stuff for direct use. They used a part of the
new arrived pure oxygen  supply and new lithium perchlorate 'disks' for
oxygen production. Radiotraffic revealed that the  cosmonauts without delay
had started the repair otf the  Elektronsystem in Module-D (Kvant-2).  On
11.04 this Elektron was activitated, but after a few minutes during which
oxygen was produced it switched itself off.  On the days to follow the crew
regularly worked on this system and to undo the last failure they even used
a part of the unserviceable  Elektron in Module-E  (Kvant-1). The urgent
work on the Elektron caused a considerable work overload of the crew. These
days the astronaut Linenger is often deployed to assist in this repairwork
for which he has to refrain from a part of his American experiments. A few
times the work on the Elektron had to be suspended for the execution of
repairwork with a higher priority.  This had to do with a lot of leakages
in the heating- and cooling circuits in the Base Block and Kvant-1. The
leaks in the cooling loops in Kvant-1 caused the outflaw of  cooling liquid
(ethylene glycol)  and the decrease of the pressure within that circuit.  A
sufficient cooling is also needed for the functioning of the carbondioxyde
(CO2)  absorber Vozdukh.  For the neutralization of CO2 in MIR's atmosphere
there is another alternative.  Progress-M34 delivered  for that purpose
canisters lithium hydroxyde. Meanwhile the Elektron in Module-D and the
Vozdukh CO2 scrubber are functioning. The problems with the
lifesupportsystems on board  caused a high humidity  and consequently a lot
of condensation.  Twice a day Tsibliyev can be heard reporting pulse rates,
blood pressures, skin temperatures and blood oxygen saturation of all crew
members.

Orbitcorrection: 

Using the engines of the Pr-M34 the orbit of the MIR-station had been
corrected on 15.04.19997 at 12.46.01UTC.  Apogee and Perigee changed from
397.16/381.63KM  to  402.54/389.51 KM. 

Solar orbit:

Within a few days MIR will enter a so called solar orbit. During this
period MIR will continuously remain in sunlight.  Then it will be more
difficult to control the on board temperatures.  Tsibliyev said that
physically the crew is able to sustain this inconvenience, but that he has
some concerns about the equipment of the complex.  

 1st Spacewalk (EVA)  MIR Main Expedition 23/ NASA 4:

This EVA is (or possibly meanwhile: was) on schedule for 29.04.1997.   The
EVA will be executed if the repairworks can  be accomplished  before a
determined deadline. 

Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202