Subject: MIRNEWS.370
From: "C.M. van den Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>
Cc: <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 20:51:39 +0200

MIRNEWS.370                                                  15 JULY 1997

Spacewalk (IVA): The preparations for the internal EVA  were still going on
successfully (as far as this can be ascertained by monitoring) when
Tsibliyev reported that he had hearth rhythm problems. Initially he
discussed this with a doctor,  first name Irina, who was not able to
diagnose the case and so she did not prescribe medicine. Later on Tsibliyev
asked for permission to swallow a pill and for an answer on his question
whether he would be able to do the difficult IVA or not. The problem
emerged yesterday and now it is known that higher 'docters'  are trying to
find a solution. During radio conversations in the passes of orb. 65141 and
65142 it was obvious  that the complaints of Tsibliyev will effect further
plans.  The excersise which was on schedule for today (using Kvant-2  to
imitate the IVA into Spektr) had been put back and that this was also the
case with the IVA itself. Today Tsibliyev declared that if he could have a
week to recover and nothing special would occur  he  wished to do the IVA
himself. From the beginning,  for instance during the collision , he was so
involved in this all that he considers this  as his duty.  TsUP obviously
had other ideas and asked Foale to take the microphone. Foale stated that
he had no objections and that he would be very pleased to accomplish this
task.  He was sure that Tsibliyev would give him the right instructions.
Tsibliyev possibly agreed with the possibility that Foale would replace
him. Foale added that he already knows how to handle the spacesuit
Orlan-DMA.  Tsibliyev said that the spacesuits were ready for the
operation. A few orbits later MIR communicated with TsUP via Altair-2 in
phone, but they also exchanged images.  For a long time the cosmonauts were
in the P.Kh.O (transition section) involved in technical preparations for
the IVA.  Tsibliyev was the most active crewmember during these
preparations and did not show signs that he had health- or stressproblems.
Probably he wants to recapture his place as spacewalker nr. 1.  Whether
Tisbliyev or Foale will do the IVA is not yet known.  The IVA has been put
back abt 10 days. Foale did not participate in the discussions from the
P.Kh.O.  Now and then, but not often, Lazutkin could be heard. 

Altair-2: The crew succeeded in restoring the communications from and to
MIR via this geostationary satellite. Initially they had problems with
their phone during the transmission of TV-images.  On Sunday (13.07) they
showed little papers with that what they wanted to tell their relatives and
friends.  On 14.07 they adjusted the installation in which Foale
substantially participated.  Today, 15.07, the so called Ku-band was fully
in use during some passes.

Chris Vandenberg, NL-9165/A-UK3202