Subject: mirnews.448
From: "C.M. vd Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 11:17:31 -0500 (EST)

Dit is een meerdelig bericht in MIME-indeling.

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MIRNEWS.448                                                  21 DECEMBER =
1998

Orbit correction:  The natural drag caused a considerable decrease of  =
MIR's altitude. On 16.12.1998 the apogee was 355.6 KM, the perigee 345.3 =
KM. Even if the Russians stick to their obligations in the ISS field and =
dump the MIR complex in July 1999,  some orbit corrections will be =
necessary to reduce the decay rate.  There have been plans to increase =
the altitude of the orbit on 22.12.1998 and to do the same in March =
1999.  On 21.12.1998 I could not yet get confirmation that the =
correction is still scheduled for 22.12.   So it might be possible and =
if this will happen, the predictions based on Kepler elements older than =
22.12 will become more and more inaccurate.=20
=20
Sun orbit: These days the MIR-space station is flying on a sun orbit.  =
So MIR remains in sunlight continuously and does not fly in eclipses at =
all.   This means an extra burden for the thermoregulation of the =
complex.  It is very warm on board, but the cosmonauts have not =
complained about this inconvenience thusfar.=20

Elektron (oxygen generator):  For some  weeks  during communication =
sessions the crew  reported on the internal pressure of one of the =
Elektrons. The values they reported were between 1.1   an 1.3. This =
value should remain not  much higher than 1.1.  After replacement of a =
unit or part of that Elektron,  they no longer reported these values.
=20
MIR-routine:

The crew executed a lot of experiments and most of their working hours  =
were  used for these activities. Less time was spent on maintenance and =
repair work of  the life systems, for instance they refuelled the =
hydrolic thermoregulation system of the Kvant-2 module.  They also had =
to repair electronic parts of experimental equipment  (power units, =
interfaces, cables a.s.o.).=20

Among the executed experiments were the study of plant growth in the =
greenhouse Svet,  the determination of optical characteristics of the =
earth's atmosphere with the photometer EFO-2,  and with the magnetic =
spectrometer Mariya  the study of high energetic particles in space and =
in the radiation belts of the earth.

Regularly the furnaces Krater, Gallar and Optizon passed in  review.  =
And the cosmonauts spoke about Ionozond, Dakon, Doze, Sigma and Alisa. =20

The cosmonauts also had to undergo medical checks while training on the =
home trainer (velo-ergometer) and the treadmill.  A few times the =
electro cardio cassette sounds  were transmitted via the VHF phone =
channel.=20

Mood on board:  Almost no complaining or dissatisfaction could be =
derived from radiotraffic, but there also was neither  exuberance nor =
cheerfulness. With TsUP,   Padalka settles his matters in an efficient, =
clear and in a business-like way.   Rarely Avdeyev gets the opportunity =
to use his nice Russian to bring up something, but even then Padalka =
quickly reconqueres the microphone.=20

During passes within my range, I did not hear reactions from  the =
cosmonauts on the beginning of the ISS-assembly.  Without comments they =
listened  to the news about the ISS, relayed to them by TsUP .

Znamya 2.5: The experiment with this solar reflector after the undocking =
of Progress-M40 will,  if nothing changes, take place a few days before =
the launch of the Soyuz-TM29 with the 27th Main Expedition to MIR on =
22.02.1999.=20

Spacewalks (EVA-s): No  more  EVA's are planned for the  present (26th =
M.E.) crew. =20
=20
Communications:   Now and then the  Luch-1/Gelios satellite over 77 =
degrees East  is in use for MIR-TsUP communications.   And just like =
during the use of the old Altairs, this does not always go smoothly.  =
For instance on 20.12.1998 family and friends gathered at TsUP for an =
Television session with MIR, but after 20 or 30 seconds the =
communications stopped.=20
=20
And to conclude:     For you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. =

 =20
Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202=20

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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>MIRNEWS.448&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&=
nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&n=
bsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
21 DECEMBER 1998</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>Orbit correction:&nbsp; =
The natural=20
drag caused a considerable decrease of&nbsp; MIR's altitude. On =
16.12.1998 the=20
apogee was 355.6 KM, the perigee 345.3 KM. Even if the Russians stick to =
their=20
obligations in the ISS field and dump the MIR complex in July =
1999,&nbsp; some=20
orbit corrections will be necessary to reduce the decay rate.&nbsp; =
There have=20
been plans to increase the altitude of the orbit on 22.12.1998 and to do =
the=20
same in March 1999.&nbsp; On 21.12.1998 I could not yet get confirmation =
that=20
the correction is still scheduled for 22.12.&nbsp;&nbsp; So it might be =
possible=20
and if this will happen, the predictions based on Kepler elements older =
than=20
22.12 will become more and more inaccurate.&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>Sun orbit: These days =
the MIR-space=20
station is flying on a sun orbit.&nbsp; So MIR remains in sunlight =
continuously=20
and does not fly in eclipses at all.&nbsp;&nbsp; This means an extra =
burden for=20
the thermoregulation of the complex.&nbsp; It is very warm on board, but =
the=20
cosmonauts have not complained about this inconvenience thusfar. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>Elektron (oxygen =
generator):&nbsp;=20
For some&nbsp; weeks&nbsp; during communication sessions the crew&nbsp; =
reported=20
on the internal pressure of one of the Elektrons. The values they =
reported were=20
between 1.1&nbsp;&nbsp; an 1.3. This value should remain not&nbsp; much =
higher=20
than 1.1.&nbsp; After replacement of a unit or part of that =
Elektron,&nbsp; they=20
no longer reported these values.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial =
size=3D2>MIR-routine:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>The crew executed a lot =
of=20
experiments and most of their working hours&nbsp; were&nbsp; used for =
these=20
activities. Less time was spent on maintenance and repair work of&nbsp; =
the life=20
systems, for instance they refuelled the hydrolic thermoregulation =
system of the=20
Kvant-2 module.&nbsp; They also had to repair electronic parts of =
experimental=20
equipment&nbsp; (power units, interfaces, cables a.s.o.). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>Among the executed =
experiments were=20
the study of plant growth in the greenhouse Svet,&nbsp; the =
determination of=20
optical characteristics of the earth's atmosphere with the photometer=20
EFO-2,&nbsp; and with the magnetic spectrometer Mariya&nbsp; the study =
of high=20
energetic particles in space and in the radiation belts of the=20
earth.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>Regularly the furnaces =
Krater, Gallar=20
and Optizon passed in&nbsp; review.&nbsp; And the cosmonauts spoke about =

Ionozond, Dakon, Doze, Sigma and Alisa.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>The cosmonauts also had =
to undergo=20
medical checks while training on the home trainer (velo-ergometer) and =
the=20
treadmill.&nbsp; A few times the electro cardio cassette sounds&nbsp; =
were=20
transmitted via the VHF phone channel. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>Mood on board:&nbsp; =
Almost no=20
complaining or dissatisfaction could be derived from radiotraffic, but =
there=20
also was neither&nbsp; exuberance nor cheerfulness. With =
TsUP,&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
Padalka settles his matters in an efficient, clear and in a =
business-like=20
way.&nbsp;&nbsp; Rarely Avdeyev gets the opportunity to use his nice =
Russian to=20
bring up something, but even then Padalka quickly reconqueres the =
microphone.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2><BR>During passes =
within my range, I=20
did not hear reactions from&nbsp; the cosmonauts on the beginning of the =

ISS-assembly.&nbsp; Without comments they listened&nbsp; to the news =
about the=20
ISS, relayed to them by TsUP .</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>Znamya 2.5: The =
experiment with this=20
solar reflector after the undocking of Progress-M40 will,&nbsp; if =
nothing=20
changes, take place a few days before the launch of the Soyuz-TM29 with =
the 27th=20
Main Expedition to MIR on 22.02.1999. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>Spacewalks (EVA-s): =
No&nbsp;=20
more&nbsp; EVA's are planned for the&nbsp; present (26th M.E.) =
crew.&nbsp; <BR>=20
<BR>Communications:&nbsp;&nbsp; Now and then the&nbsp; Luch-1/Gelios =
satellite=20
over 77 degrees East&nbsp; is in use for MIR-TsUP =
communications.&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
And just like during the use of the old Altairs, this does not always go =

smoothly.&nbsp; For instance on 20.12.1998 family and friends gathered =
at TsUP=20
for an Television session with MIR, but after 20 or 30 seconds the=20
communications stopped.&nbsp;</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial size=3D2>And to=20
conclude:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For you all a Merry Christmas and a =
Happy New=20
Year. <BR>&nbsp; <BR>Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202=20
<BR></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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