Subject: mirnews.409
From: "C.M. vd Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 03:03:53 -0500 (EST)

MIRNEWS.409                                                           23
February 1998

Progress-M37 redocked at MIR:

The docking took place on 23.02.1998 at 09.42.27UTC (in my Progress-M37
message I wrote 09.43.27,  sorry, slip of the finger!). Approach and
docking were executed in the automatic mode with the system Kurs.  During
the final phase of the operation Musabayev was ready to take over the
control manually with the system TORU. 

The window for traffic via Altair-2 was in use from 0857UTC until the
docking. Musabayev reported about  what they did in relation to the
approach operation.  At 0858UTC Musabayev reported that he could see the
lights of the Pr-M37. Later on he reported what he could see via monitors
of the Kurs and TORU systems. At 0859UTC M. started a test of TORU. The
system worked well and reacted faultlessly  on all commands. When he
switched off  TORU at 0905UTC he reported that the test results were
positive. Hereafter he continued to follow the movements of Pr-M37 and he
reported the distances and approach speeds. At 0910UTC audio communications
via Altair-2 stopped and from that moment Altair-2 transmitted images of
the MIR-complex seen via a camera in the Progress.  At that moment the
distance was 220 meters and the approach speed 0.8 M/sec. 

 At 0930UTC, MIR still could be seen via Altair-2,  communications
continued via VHF.  Also the transmitters of Pr-M37 on 922.755 and in the
166 and 165 mc bands could be heard. TCA for my position was 09.30.40UTC.
During this VHF-window the crew got permission for the docking and at LOS
at 0937UTC the distance between MIR and Pr-M37 was 162 meters with an
approach speed of 0.94 M/sec. 

Fortunately it was reported that the docking had been successful. 

During the next window of Altair-2 the transponders were switched on at
1023UTC and Musabayev tried to get in touch with TsUP.  He repeatedly
called TsUP, but did not get any reaction. Just before Altair-2 switched
off there was a short link at 1047UTC.  

Smell: After the opening of the hatch of Pr-M37 some orbits later a strong
terrible smell came out the freighter.  Possibly a bag or container with
garbage had gone  open. The crew decided to set the hatch to the Progress
ajar. 

 Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202