Subject: MIRNEWS.362
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: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 13:34:18 +0200

MIRNEWS.362                                 25 JUNE 1997

Progress-M34:  In  contradiction  to  the  information  given   in   my
MIRNEWS.361 the Russians decided to execute manoeuvres with this old
freighter for tests of the TORU system (system for remote controled
guidance from inside MIR). The fact that departing Pr-M-ships could be used
for that purpose had been announced, but I could not get confirmation about
the possible use of Pr-M34. Radiotraffic during the last  days  revealed 
that  Tsibliyev  had  got    orders to check the TORU-system during an
autonomous flight of  Pr-M34.  He and  Lazutkin  repaired  electronics  of 
the  TORU  and  TsUP  told    Tsibliyev what he had to do. The manoeuvres
should be  executed  during   those periods in which MIR would be in range
of groundstations.
Progress-M34 undocked from MIR on 24.06.97 at 10.22.50UTC.  Just after
undocking Pr-M34 flew above the MIR-complex and a few hours later Tsibliyev
reported that Pr-M34 flew behind MIR in a distance of appr. 2 KM.  Pr-M34
had to be redocked at MIR with the use of the system TORU on 25.06.1997
between 0920 and 0925UTC. THIS DOCKING ATTEMPT FAILED.  When this report
'went to press' specialists at TsUP were analysing the situation and
whether or not -and if so when- a second attempt would be made had not been
decided yet. 

Progress-M35:  The launch of this freighter is on schedule for 27.06.1997
at 0721UTC. If this launch will take place (in view of the situation with
Pr-M34 might this been changed) and if all goes according to plan this
freighter will have to dock at MIR aft (+X-axis) port on 29.06.1997 at
0848UTC. (In my MIRNEWS.361 the estimated times were incorrect. I mixed up
DMV time (TsUP time) with Moscow summer time.)

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