Subject: mirnews.465
From: "C.M. vd Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 05:29:19 -0400 (EDT)

Dit is een meerdelig bericht in MIME-indeling.

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MIRNEWS.465                                                        10 =
AUGUST 1999

Computerfailure on board MIR-spacestation:

During a radio-amateur conversation on 30.07.99 at 1450UTC (orb. 76824) =
Haignere said that they had a minor problem with the attitude control of =
the station, but that all was well and he expected that the problem =
would soon be solved. During the pass in orb. 76825 (1627UTC) TsUP gave =
Afanasyev computer commands related to the correction of the attitude =
with the use of steering rockets and the VDU-thruster, and in that way =
restoring the efficiency of the solar batteries.  One orbit later =
(76826) at 1935UTC TsUP told Avdeyev that he could use the means of the =
'ship' (S-TM29)  to secure the power supply.=20

The cause of the computer failure was a wrong command from TsUP.  The =
crew was not very impressed and apart from the operation to restore the =
functioning of the gyrodynes, they continued a number of experiments and =
Haignere remained busy with his radio-amateur passion.=20

TsUP altered the working schedule for the next days, using the =
interruption in the functioning of the attitude control to put forward =
the integration of the new control and navigation system (BUPO)  in the =
Propulsion Control System of the complex.  To make this integration =
possible, much of propulsion system had to be switched off, and so this =
'failure' was utilised in a positive way.=20

BUPO: This is the Russian abbreviation for the new control unit. The =
name is Unit for Control,  Docking and Orientation (Blok Upravleniya =
Prichalivaniya i Orientatsii). As far as I could derive from radio =
traffic, they concluded this work already on 31.07.99. On 2.08.1999 the =
crew conducted tests of the new system. That day the gyrodynes were =
spinning again at full speed.=20

It always lasts some time to gather the necessary details to know how a =
new system works.  Several news bulletins  gave the impression that the =
BUPO replaced the old central computer TsVM-1.  But this computer, and =
also the SUD (movements control system), which controls the functioning =
of the gyrodynes, are still operational. BUPO has to secure a safe =
flight when the station has no crew on board.=20

According to the modest information at my disposal at this point,  BUPO =
can replace the crew when the attitude control by gyrodynes fails.  =
Thusfar the crew used to take over that control by commanding steering =
rockets and the VDU roll control thruster, thus restoring the attitude =
and the correct angles  of the solar batteries towards the sun. One of =
the first actions of the crew when the normal attitude control fails, =
has been the switching off of all energy consuming systems.   BUPO =
should be able to do that when there is no crew on board.=20

The 'P' is an indication that this system will enable TsUP to control =
approach and docking operations. It stands for 'mooring' or 'docking' =
(Prichalivaniye). This might mean that BUPO can replace the crew when  =
during docking operations,  the automatic Kurs system fails. In the =
beginning of the year 2000 such an operation has to be executed.  Then =
the 'tanker' Progress-M43, containing 4 fuel tanks, has to be docked at =
MIR  for the final operation: giving the impuls to put the MIR-complex =
on a destruction course into the atmosphere. So if the Russians can not =
find the funds to send an extra crew (eventual Mir's Main expedition nr. =
28, by Soyuz-TM30), TsUP might via BUPO secure the docking of the    =
tanker.=20

MIR-routine: The cosmonauts energetically continue to execute =
experiments.  If you did not know better,  you might get the impression =
that MIR's exploitation   would still last for a long time.  Haignere =
does all what is necessary to conclude the Perseus program, he still =
executes experiments like Alice-2 and Genesis.=20

A few days ago Avdeyev installed equipment for the execution of the =
experiment Volna for the  study of the efficiency of capillary intake =
gadgets in fuel tanks. Afanasyev worked on an experiment named Linza.  =
Apart from these technological experiments the normal series were =
mentioned,  giving all kinds of spectrometers and other devices the =
opportunity to sing their swan song.=20

But the fact that the crew will leave the space station before long more =
and more emerges in the radiotraffic.  The crew already is training in =
the Chibis suit, always a standard training for crews about to return to =
earth and they undergo extra medical checks, especially of the =
cardio-vascular system.
=20
Meanwhile they  are replacing equipment, for instance a few days ago =
some accumulator batteries.=20
During radio-amateur conversations Haignere told that they have to do a =
lot of work during the last weeks of their mission. One of the main =
tasks is to prevent that an eventual extra crew will arrive in a chaos. =
They will load all waste, especially human waste and garbage, in the =
Progress-M42 and they will have to prepare all on board systems for the =
flight of MIR in the unmanned status. He also spoke about the extra =
exercises they have to do to be ready to meet the earthly gravity =
conditions.=20

Communications: During the last weeks the radiotraffic is very dense. =
The crew regularly uses 2 different channels: 143.625 and 130.165 mc. =
Via one channel they speak with TsUP, via the other channel they =
exchange Packet Radio traffic or hold a second conversation.  The =
transceiver for radio-amateur traffic is almost always red-hot, =
especially when Haignere is using it. He continues to express his =
displeasure about the lack of discipline among radio-amateurs who fail =
to listen before calling.=20
If the dense working schedule of the cosmonauts makes this possible, =
there will be a lot of radio-amateur activities during the last 2 =
weekends,  possibly also with SSTV images.=20

Eventual extra expedition next year: Optimists are sure that such a =
mission will take place. If so this will be the 28th Main Expedition to =
MIR, the crew of which will fly to MIR on  the Soyuz-TM30.  The members =
of the present crew are not optimistic: Avdeyev and Haignere are not =
sure that such a mission is possible.  At TsUP there is some hope, but =
the most used expression there is: 'ne veroyatno'  (unlikely).

For Russia another mission is more important.  Nowadays 2 crews are =
training for a flight to the International Space Station in December =
1999 to be there when the Service Module (Zvezda) will arrive there. =
That crew must be there for the eventual manual docking of Zvezda if the =
automatic mode fails. The first crew consists of Padalka and Budarin, =
the stand-in crew  of Korzun and Treshchov.=20

The return flight of the present and probably  last crew with the S-TM29 =
is scheduled for 28.08.1999.  Regretfully this decision is irreversible. =

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

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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>MIRNEWS.465&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
10 AUGUST 1999</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Computerfailure on board=20
MIR-spacestation:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>During a radio-amateur conversation =
on 30.07.99=20
at 1450UTC (orb. 76824) Haignere said that they had a minor problem with =
the=20
attitude control of the station, but that all was well and he expected =
that the=20
problem would soon be solved. During the pass in orb. 76825 (1627UTC) =
TsUP gave=20
Afanasyev computer commands related to the correction of the attitude =
with the=20
use of steering rockets and the VDU-thruster, and in that way restoring =
the=20
efficiency of the solar batteries.&nbsp; One orbit later (76826) at =
1935UTC TsUP=20
told Avdeyev that he could use the means of the 'ship' (S-TM29)&nbsp; to =
secure=20
the power supply. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>The cause of the computer failure =
was a wrong=20
command from TsUP.&nbsp; The crew was not very impressed and apart from =
the=20
operation to restore the functioning of the gyrodynes, they continued a =
number=20
of experiments and Haignere remained busy with his radio-amateur =
passion.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>TsUP altered the working schedule =
for the next=20
days, using the interruption in the functioning of the attitude control =
to put=20
forward the integration of the new control and navigation system =
(BUPO)&nbsp; in=20
the Propulsion Control System of the complex.&nbsp; To make this =
integration=20
possible, much of propulsion system had to be switched off, and so this=20
'failure' was utilised in a positive way. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>BUPO: This is the Russian =
abbreviation for the=20
new control unit. The name is Unit for Control,&nbsp; Docking and =
Orientation=20
(Blok Upravleniya Prichalivaniya i Orientatsii). As far as I could =
derive from=20
radio traffic, they concluded this work already on 31.07.99. On =
2.08.1999 the=20
crew conducted tests of the new system. That day the gyrodynes were =
spinning=20
again at full speed. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>It always lasts some time to gather =
the=20
necessary details to know how a new system works.&nbsp; Several news=20
bulletins&nbsp; gave the impression that the BUPO replaced the old =
central=20
computer TsVM-1.&nbsp; But this computer, and also the SUD (movements =
control=20
system), which controls the functioning of the gyrodynes, are still =
operational.=20
BUPO has to secure a safe flight when the station has no crew on board.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>According to the modest information =
at my=20
disposal at this point,&nbsp; BUPO can replace the crew when the =
attitude=20
control by gyrodynes fails.&nbsp; Thusfar the crew used to take over =
that=20
control by commanding steering rockets and the VDU roll control =
thruster, thus=20
restoring the attitude and the correct angles&nbsp; of the solar =
batteries=20
towards the sun. One of the first actions of the crew when the normal =
attitude=20
control fails, has been the switching off of all energy consuming=20
systems.&nbsp;&nbsp; BUPO should be able to do that when there is no =
crew on=20
board. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>The 'P' is an indication that this =
system will=20
enable TsUP to control approach and docking operations. It stands for =
'mooring'=20
or 'docking' (Prichalivaniye). This might mean that BUPO can replace the =
crew=20
when&nbsp; during docking operations,&nbsp; the automatic Kurs system =
fails. In=20
the beginning of the year 2000 such an operation has to be =
executed.&nbsp; Then=20
the 'tanker' Progress-M43, containing 4 fuel tanks, has to be docked at=20
MIR&nbsp; for the final operation: giving the impuls to put the =
MIR-complex on a=20
destruction course into the atmosphere. So if the Russians can not find =
the=20
funds to send an extra crew (eventual Mir's Main expedition nr. 28, by=20
Soyuz-TM30), TsUP might via BUPO secure the docking of =
the&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
tanker. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>MIR-routine: The cosmonauts =
energetically=20
continue to execute experiments.&nbsp; If you did not know better,&nbsp; =
you=20
might get the impression that MIR's exploitation&nbsp;&nbsp; would still =
last=20
for a long time.&nbsp; Haignere does all what is necessary to conclude =
the=20
Perseus program, he still executes experiments like Alice-2 and Genesis. =

</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>A few days ago Avdeyev installed =
equipment for=20
the execution of the experiment Volna for the&nbsp; study of the =
efficiency of=20
capillary intake gadgets in fuel tanks. Afanasyev worked on an =
experiment named=20
Linza.&nbsp; Apart from these technological experiments the normal =
series were=20
mentioned,&nbsp; giving all kinds of spectrometers and other devices the =

opportunity to sing their swan song. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>But the fact that the crew will =
leave the space=20
station before long more and more emerges in the radiotraffic.&nbsp; The =
crew=20
already is training in the Chibis suit, always a standard training for =
crews=20
about to return to earth and they undergo extra medical checks, =
especially of=20
the cardio-vascular system.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Meanwhile they&nbsp; are replacing =
equipment,=20
for instance a few days ago some accumulator batteries. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>During radio-amateur conversations =
Haignere told=20
that they have to do a lot of work during the last weeks of their =
mission. One=20
of the main tasks is to prevent that an eventual extra crew will arrive =
in a=20
chaos. They will load all waste, especially human waste and garbage, in =
the=20
Progress-M42 and they will have to prepare all on board systems for the =
flight=20
of MIR in the unmanned status. He also spoke about the extra exercises =
they have=20
to do to be ready to meet the earthly gravity conditions. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Communications: During the last =
weeks the=20
radiotraffic is very dense. The crew regularly uses 2 different =
channels:=20
143.625 and 130.165 mc. Via one channel they speak with TsUP, via the =
other=20
channel they exchange Packet Radio traffic or hold a second =
conversation.&nbsp;=20
The transceiver for radio-amateur traffic is almost always red-hot, =
especially=20
when Haignere is using it. He continues to express his displeasure about =
the=20
lack of discipline among radio-amateurs who fail to listen before =
calling.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>If the dense working schedule of the =
cosmonauts=20
makes this possible, there will be a lot of radio-amateur activities =
during the=20
last 2 weekends,&nbsp; possibly also with SSTV images. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Eventual extra expedition next year: =
Optimists=20
are sure that such a mission will take place. If so this will be the =
28th Main=20
Expedition to MIR, the crew of which will fly to MIR on&nbsp; the=20
Soyuz-TM30.&nbsp; The members of the present crew are not optimistic: =
Avdeyev=20
and Haignere are not sure that such a mission is possible.&nbsp; At TsUP =
there=20
is some hope, but the most used expression there is: 'ne =
veroyatno'&nbsp;=20
(unlikely).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>For Russia another mission is more=20
important.&nbsp; Nowadays 2 crews are training for a flight to the =
International=20
Space Station in December 1999 to be there when the Service Module =
(Zvezda) will=20
arrive there. That crew must be there for the eventual manual docking of =
Zvezda=20
if the automatic mode fails. The first crew consists of Padalka and =
Budarin, the=20
stand-in crew&nbsp; of Korzun and Treshchov. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR>The return flight of the present =
and=20
probably&nbsp; last crew with the S-TM29 is scheduled for =
28.08.1999.&nbsp;=20
Regretfully this decision is irreversible. </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Chris van den Berg, =
NL-9165/A-UK3202<BR>=20
</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;<BR> </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;<BR> </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Chris v.d. Berg, =
NL-9165/A-UK3202</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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