Subject: mirnews.467
From: "C.M. vd Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 13:32:19 -0400 (EDT)

Dit is een meerdelig bericht in MIME-indeling.

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MIRNEWS.467                                              25 AUGUST 1999

MIR-routine:  In fact the description 'routine'  does not fully cover =
the activities on board in this period. The major parts of the work are =
aimed at the preparation of the MIR-space station for the upcoming =
unmanned status.  All  available windows for radio communications   are =
fully utilised,  and when there are no conversations the Packet Radio is =
red-hot, for the stream of radiograms with a lot of instructions and =
recommendations does not decrease.  Often the cosmonauts speak with TsUP =
during the P/R circular saw rattles. Most of the subjects in those =
radiograms can be determined by the questions of the cosmonauts or =
supplements or changes  given by TsUP.=20

On 23.08 the  SO, the docking compartment attached to  the module =
Kristall, was conserved and closed. The conservation of the module =
Priroda had been put back to 25.08.99, which means that thereafter  no =
experiments can be executed with equipment installed in that module.  =
The experiments Dakon (convection experiment) and Alice-2 (a fluid =
experiment) have been active until 24.08. Observations  with the Lidar =
Alisa were concluded on 19.08.99 and the gathered data were copied to =
cassettes for retrieval to earth.=20

 Fortunately   on request by CNES the return of the crew had been put =
back from 23 to 28.08, for there still has   a lot of work to be done.  =
The freighter Progress-M42, docked to  the complex, is fully loaded with =
all what is superfluous. Among them also containers with urine. This =
urine cannot be used any more to regenerate technical water, for the =
SRVU, the system for this regeneration, had also to be switched off. The =
most important part of the activities in this stage is the switching off =
of all systems which are not needed during the unmanned status. For =
instance on 24.08 the cosmonauts had to check whether the furnace Krater =
had been  switched off.=20

In the next months the Progress-M42 will now and then alter the orbit of =
the MIR complex.  This happened also at least 3 times during the past =
week and this increased the altitude of MIR to approx. 359/353 KM.=20

After Priroda also the modules Kvant-2 and Kristall will be conserved. =
The small  air leakage in the module Kvant-2 has not been located =
thusfar  and a gradual decrease of the pressure in that module can be =
expected. I do not know if the module Kristall will be closed. The =
module Spektr cannot be conserved, for this module is not operational as =
of 27.06.1997.=20

Extra air seal checks have to be done on equipment which has valves to =
outer space. (For instance the Vozdukh CO2 scrubbers, draining  CO2 into =
open space,  and the Electrons doing the same with the hydrogen, a  =
by-product  of the electrolyse process for the oxygen production.)

 So there must be some concern about the module Kvant-2. On 25.08 the =
cosmonauts got orders to report regularly  the air pressure inside the =
P.G.O. (instrument and cargo compartment of the Kvant-2).

Radio traffic reveals that the cosmonauts are working under great =
pressure.  During the disc-preparation of this report there were only 2 =
days left for all what still has to be done, inclusive items like the =
checks of the systems of the return vehicle Soyuz-TM29, the execution of =
a number of physical exercises and medical checks. Now and then I am =
inclined to presume that the return must be put back some days (if this =
is operationally possible).

Radio traffic is also dedicated to the selection of  what the cosmonauts =
will have to bring back to earth and which has to be stowed into the =
descent module (SA) of the ship S-TM29.   It will  be pretty tight in =
there!

Pressconference: On 21.08.1999 there were 2 press conferences at TsUP. =
Main subject was an evaluation of the results of the 27th Main =
Expedition to MIR.  The communications windows were pretty short and so =
the questions and answers had to be very short. The crew fulfilled all =
their tasks.  Haignere was very pleased with his Perseus program, in =
which he also worked with earlier installed equipment  from CNES as well =
as from the German DLR, such as the Titus furnace and many devices for =
geophysical- and ionospheric research.=20

Commander Afanasyev told that he did not like that MIR would fly =
unmanned so long. In one of the press conferences also the eventual 28th =
final Main expedition was mentioned. Thusfar this is still unsure and  =
depends on the funding.=20
=20
 Chris van den  Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202=20

  =20

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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2><BR>MIRNEWS.467&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nb=
sp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs=
p;=20
25 AUGUST 1999</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>MIR-routine:&nbsp; In fact the =
description=20
'routine'&nbsp; does not fully cover the activities on board in this =
period. The=20
major parts of the work are aimed at the preparation of the MIR-space =
station=20
for the upcoming unmanned status.&nbsp; All&nbsp; available windows for =
radio=20
communications&nbsp;&nbsp; are fully utilised,&nbsp; and when there are =
no=20
conversations the Packet Radio is red-hot, for the stream of radiograms =
with a=20
lot of instructions and recommendations does not decrease.&nbsp; Often =
the=20
cosmonauts speak with TsUP during the P/R circular saw rattles. Most of =
the=20
subjects in those radiograms can be determined by the questions of the=20
cosmonauts or supplements or changes&nbsp; given by TsUP. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>On 23.08 the&nbsp; SO, the docking =
compartment=20
attached to&nbsp; the module Kristall, was conserved and closed. The=20
conservation of the module Priroda had been put back to 25.08.99, which =
means=20
that thereafter&nbsp; no experiments can be executed with equipment =
installed in=20
that module.&nbsp; The experiments Dakon (convection experiment) and =
Alice-2 (a=20
fluid experiment) have been active until 24.08. Observations&nbsp; with =
the=20
Lidar Alisa were concluded on 19.08.99 and the gathered data were copied =
to=20
cassettes for retrieval to earth. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;Fortunately&nbsp;&nbsp; on =
request by CNES=20
the return of the crew had been put back from 23 to 28.08, for there =
still=20
has&nbsp;&nbsp; a lot of work to be done.&nbsp; The freighter =
Progress-M42,=20
docked to&nbsp; the complex, is fully loaded with all what is =
superfluous. Among=20
them also containers with urine. This urine cannot be used any more to=20
regenerate technical water, for the SRVU, the system for this =
regeneration, had=20
also to be switched off. The most important part of the activities in =
this stage=20
is the switching off of all systems which are not needed during the =
unmanned=20
status. For instance on 24.08 the cosmonauts had to check whether the =
furnace=20
Krater had been&nbsp; switched off. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>In the next months the Progress-M42 =
will now and=20
then alter the orbit of the MIR complex.&nbsp; This happened also at =
least 3=20
times during the past week and this increased the altitude of MIR to =
approx.=20
359/353 KM. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>After Priroda also the modules =
Kvant-2 and=20
Kristall will be conserved. The small&nbsp; air leakage in the module =
Kvant-2=20
has not been located thusfar&nbsp; and a gradual decrease of the =
pressure in=20
that module can be expected. I do not know if the module Kristall will =
be=20
closed. The module Spektr cannot be conserved, for this module is not=20
operational as of 27.06.1997. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Extra air seal checks have to be =
done on=20
equipment which has valves to outer space. (For instance the Vozdukh CO2 =

scrubbers, draining&nbsp; CO2 into open space,&nbsp; and the Electrons =
doing the=20
same with the hydrogen, a&nbsp; by-product&nbsp; of the electrolyse =
process for=20
the oxygen production.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;So there must be some concern =
about the=20
module Kvant-2. On 25.08 the cosmonauts got orders to report =
regularly&nbsp; the=20
air pressure inside the P.G.O. (instrument and cargo compartment of the=20
Kvant-2).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Radio traffic reveals that the =
cosmonauts are=20
working under great pressure.&nbsp; During the disc-preparation of this =
report=20
there were only 2 days left for all what still has to be done, inclusive =
items=20
like the checks of the systems of the return vehicle Soyuz-TM29, the =
execution=20
of a number of physical exercises and medical checks. Now and then I am =
inclined=20
to presume that the return must be put back some days (if this is =
operationally=20
possible).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Radio traffic is also dedicated to =
the selection=20
of&nbsp; what the cosmonauts will have to bring back to earth and which =
has to=20
be stowed into the descent module (SA) of the ship S-TM29.&nbsp;&nbsp; =
It=20
will&nbsp; be pretty tight in there!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Pressconference: On 21.08.1999 there =
were 2=20
press conferences at TsUP. Main subject was an evaluation of the results =
of the=20
27th Main Expedition to MIR.&nbsp; The communications windows were =
pretty short=20
and so the questions and answers had to be very short. The crew =
fulfilled all=20
their tasks.&nbsp; Haignere was very pleased with his Perseus program, =
in which=20
he also worked with earlier installed equipment&nbsp; from CNES as well =
as from=20
the German DLR, such as the Titus furnace and many devices for =
geophysical- and=20
ionospheric research. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Commander Afanasyev told that he did =
not like=20
that MIR would fly unmanned so long. In one of the press conferences =
also the=20
eventual 28th final Main expedition was mentioned. Thusfar this is still =
unsure=20
and&nbsp; depends on the funding. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;<BR> Chris van den&nbsp; Berg, =

NL-9165/A-UK3202 </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
<BR></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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