Subject: MIRNEWS.358
From: "C.M. van den Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Cc: <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 07:59:29 +0200

MIRNEWS.358                                           11 MAY 1997

MIR-routine:   The successful spacewalk (EVA) gave the crew the elixir they
badly needed.  In the period after the EVA the lion's share of the
activities had to consist of the preparations for the arrival of Atlantis
on mission STS-84 on 17.05 (wind and weather permitting).  Of course they
do a lot in this repect, but repairs and the struggle to restore failing
systems almost overtax the cosmonauts. They had to replace a number of
essential parts of the SRV-U (the system for regenerating water from
urine). Also the system SRV-K, to make water from condenstation had to be
mended. A few days they had to spend a lot of time on the 2 KOB-systems.
One of those systems showed a repeatedly pressure decrease. They needed a
pressure hose for the repair and tried out some hoses they found. At last
they connected one that fitted and solved the problem by the separation of
both systems. They postponed the search for the leaks in the KOB-1 and 2
and the cooling loop in Kvant-1 until  after the departure of Atlantis. For
the coordination of all activities and to get the necessary advices from
TsUP all VHF-windows are needed and used. They also communicate via Dryden
and Wallops in the USA and Oberpfaffenhofen in Germany, even during
holidays. Sometimes a failure emerges spontanuously during
VHF-conversations.For instance  11.05 during the pass in orbit 64127 at
0639UTC TsUP ordered Tsibliyev to switch off the cycling of the solarpanels
and when he did so the SOI (possibly the system for orientation and
stabilisation) stopped. The reservesystem (SOI-2) immediately took over. 
During the last days special attention had to be paid to the movements-
(attitude-) control systems.  The external thruster in the Soforamast (VDU)
has been used, possibly to take care for the stabilisation during a
resetprocedure for the gyrodynes. 

Preparations for the arrival of Atlantis:  Especially Jerry Linenger is
very busy with the selection and the arrangement of that what he has to
deliver on Earth. The Russians also do so with the help of checklists.  The
main bulk of cargo for return consists of samples and software of
experiments, but there is also a lot of defective and used equipment and
parts of systems. 

Altair-2: This geostationary satellite (23426 - 94082A) accomplished its
walk from 96 dgs East to 17 dgs West, but did not make a stand. To
stabilize the satellite over the calculated subsatellite point (between 16
and 17 dgs West) the VKS (Russian Space Forces)  have to correct the orbit
such that the period will become 1436 minutes ) on day 128 the period was
still 1438 minutes. 

Mission STS-84 Atlantis: The main purpose of this mission is the delivery
of Mike Foale and the relief of Jerry Linenger for return to Earth. As soon
as Mike Foales 'seatliner' has been transferred to MIR (in fact via MIR to
Soyuz-TM25) MIR mission will get the designation MIR23/NASA5.  If, wind and
weather permitting, Atlantis will blast off on 15.05 the following 
schedule can be used: Launch 15.05 at 0808UTC, opening hatches 17.05
0428UTC. Undocking 22.05 at 0405UTC  Landing 24.05 at 1153UTC.

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