Subject: mirnews.376
From: "C.M. van den Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 1997 18:18:31 +0200

MIRNEWS.376                                               8 AUGUST 1997

Soyuz-TM26:  This transportship docked at the aft port of MIR on 7.08.1997
at 17.02.08 UTC. During the dockingoperation communications took place via
Altair-2. The approach was in the automatic mode with the system Kurs. When
MIR and S-TM26 came within my VHF-range Solovyov could be heard reporting
distances, approach speeds and deviations in course.  Everything went
perfect until appr. 1700UTC when a slight upward deviation forced Solovyov
to take over manually.  The 'Kurs' failure did not get much attention due
to the euphoria after the 'successful' docking. 

Opening of the hatches: The hatches swung open during the pass in orb.
65507 at 1832UTC.  Normally this is a smooth and orderly procedure but this
time there were some problems with the TV-link. Cheerfully both crews met
each other.  During the pass in orb. 65508, 2006-2013UTC, TsUP and Solovyov
discussed the conservation of the S-TM26 and some technical items.  The
session was concluded by the transfer of radiograms from Earth to MIR by
Packet Radio. 

Communications during the 2d flightday of Soyuz-TM26:  In all passes good
reception on all frequencies.  In a conversation with someone on Earth
Vinogradov told that he somewhat suffered from spacesickness during the
first flight day and in the morning of the 2d one, but after eating 
somewhat substantional he recovered and was now feeling well.

Progress-M35: This supplyship undocked from MIR on 6.08 at 11.46.45UTC. 

MIR: Thusfar Tsibliyev and Lazutkin did not succeed in repairing the
Elektron oxygen generator in Kvant-1. There are some options to solve the
problem: 1. With a  sparepart to be delivered by Atlantis in September,  or
2. to try to find a way to deliver power to the Elektron in the now
curtailed module Kvant-2.  For the time being oxygen has to be generated by
the heating of lithium perchlorate cartridges. Not so convenient with 5 men
on board. 

Plans: (as far as known at deadline for this report) :

Return of Tsibliyev and Lazutkin with their Soyuz-TM25 on 14.08.1997.  (In
my opinion a return of the relieved crew as soon as possible due to the
oxygen problems would be a logical decision). 

The redocking of Soyuz-TM26 with on board Solovyov, Vinogradov and Foale
from  aft to forward docking port (P.Kh.O.) on 15.08. 1997.

The return and docking  in the automatic mode (Kurs) of Progress-M35 at the
aft docking port on 16.08.1997. 

Chris Vandenberg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.