Subject: MIRNEWS.361
From: "C.M. van den Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Cc: <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 15:43:12 +0200

MIRNEWS.361                         16 JUNE 1997

    Progress-M35: If all goes according to  plan  this  freighter  will  be
    launched on 27.06.1997  at  0630UTC.  If  launch  and  flight  will  be
    successful Pr-M35 will dock at  MIR's  aft  docking  port  (X-axis)  on
    29.06.1997 at abt 0748UTC.

    Progress-M34: There are no plans for an autonomous flight with  Pr-M34.
    If during the first day of the flight of Pr-M35 all  goes  well  Pr-M34
    will separate from MIR on  28.06.1997  and  brought  on  a  destruction
    course for decay over a designated area in  the  Pacific  East  of  New
    Zealand.

    Radio-amateurtraffic: As requested by radio-amateurs  in  the  USA  the
    'downlink frequency' of the VHF station in MIR's base  block  has  been
    changed from 145.800 to 145.985 mc. This change took place on 15.06.97.
    Almost during every pass within our range traffic, mainly Packet Radio,
    can be monitored. During the last days Foale could be heard in Phone.
    Foale is a skilled radio-amateur with a very good memory. During a  QSO
    with the Belgian amateur ON6GP he remarked that during  mission  STS-45
    ON6GP spoke with Foale's crewmate the Belgian astronaut Frimaut.

    Communications: Tsibliyev and Lazutkin during every pass discuss  their
    reparation activities. They meet a lot  of  problems  with  cables  and
    contacts which they cannot find or do not fit. Undoubtedly the  present
    mission, teased by a lot of problems  and  set-backs,  is  leaving  its
    traces  on  the  psychological  stamina  of  Tsibliyev  and   Lazutkin.
    Especially  for Tsibliyev it is not always easy  to maintain  his  
normal flexibility. 
    In  a  long   conversation with his father Foale told that he just flew
over England.
    The British isles were fully overcast and  the cloudlayer  had  the
    same shape as the country itself. He also told  that  Tsibliyev  and 
Lazutkin
    badly hope that the relief crew will be launched at abt.  8.08.97.  The
    Russians will  be  relieved  by  Solovyov  and  Vinogradov.  After  the
    departure of the present crew Foale will remain on  board  MIR.  So  he
    will be a member of MIR's Main Expedition nr. 24 (Solovyov and
Vinogradov)
    for  a  period  of   appr. 7 weeks.

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