Subject: mirnews.468
From: "C.M. vd Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 04:46:11 -0400 (EDT)

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MIRNEWS.468                                                              =
  29 AUGUST  1999

MIR-FINALE:  Separation of Soyuz-TM29 took place on 27.08.99 at 2117UTC. =
On board the crew of the 27th Main Expedition to MIR.  This concluded =
the last manned period which lasted from 6.09.89. (I neglected the very =
short unmanned period during redockings of Soyuz-ships)

Nearly 3 hours before the crew left the MIR-space station and closed the =
hatches behind them. With a TV camera, which had been installed in the =
P.Kh.O. (transition section) on 19.08.1999, remote controled by TsUP, =
transmissions were made of  the crew entering the Soyuz-TM29 and the =
closure of the outer hatch by Afanasyev (at 1815UTC).

The landing at a distance of approx. 80 KM east of Arkalyk took place =
after 2 autonomous orbits on 28.08.99 at 00.34.54UTC.=20

As always during return operations when no geostationary communication =
satellite is available (Altair-1 and Altair-2 are out of order),  there =
would be no radiotraffic within my range if the landing had taken place =
in time.  But nevertheless I was ready to monitor traffic if the =
Russians would put back the descent until the 2nd or 3rd opportunity.  =
This happened during the return flights of  S-TM5 with Lyakhov/Makhmond =
and the S-TM6 with Titov/Manarov/Chretien.  In both cases I got downlink =
from  the ship (and comments from the MIR-crew) on 121.750 mc. So I did =
what almost everybody could do that night: follow the live events via =
CNN.  CNN got  TV images of the crew still on board MIR and boarding the =
S-TM29 and de undocking and spring controled moving away. These images =
came via relays from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka. There were no live TV =
images from the descent operation and the landing. Even those who =
attended the operation at TsUP did not see anything.   The Russians had =
to pay too much and  also CNES did not want to meet the demands.

So CNN continued broadcasting irrelevant items and the unavoidable =
hotels, so I had to tap other sources to be sure that it was not =
necessary to remain on duty for eventual radio communications due to a =
delay.  As soon as I heard that the landing had taken place in time, I =
sank down on my bunk. Though I was satified that the brave men of MIR 27 =
had returned to earth in good health, I fell asleep with mixed feelings.
=20
My short night's rest ended precisely at 0624UTC.  Without setting my =
alarm-clock, my inner alarm woke me up at the beginning of MIR-s pass =
for my position in orbit 77275. Belief it or not but I stumbled to my =
communications gear and monitored the radio-amateur frequencies 145.985 =
and 145.940 mc. Like thousands of radio-amateurs all over the world, I =
hoped that the Packet Radio installation on board still was operational. =

Regretfully this was not so. In fact, I should have known so, during the =
last radio-amateur sessions there was not a single  indication that =
these transmissions would continue.=20
TsUP was willing to give permission   only if they would have the =
possibility to switch off the  system  when needed.=20
=20
MIR-routine during the last days:  The amount of radio-traffic was  =
enormous until and inclusive 26.08.99. The cosmonauts waited with the =
conservation of the modules Kvant-2 (module-D) and Kristall (module-T) =
until the evening of 26.08.99. The main part of that day was dedicated =
to the replacement of equipment (mainly filters of the life support =
systems) and all kinds of   checks, for instance the valves of the =
gyrodynes. Connections in the Base Block and in the module Kvant-1 =
(module-E) had to be disconnected,  and the Elektron oxygen generator in =
Kvant-1 was switched off. This all emerged in radio conversations with =
TsUP from where many specialist fired a lot of instructions or demands =
at the cosmonauts and so every minute of these working days was =
overloaded. On 26.08.99 Haignere spent more than 3 hours for the =
preparation of equipment which he had to bring back to earth. For me it =
turned out better than expected that the workload did not result in =
stress (as far as I could hear) or unpleasant incidents. In his contacts =
with the French consultative group, Haignere now and then used the word =
'panique'.

For me the last day of possible radio-traffic,  27.08.99, was an =
anticlimax. I sharply listened out on all frequencies during windows for =
my position, but there was no traffic at all on the service channels. =
Only a few radio-amateur transmissions, for instance SSTV images, Packet =
Radio, some phone from Haignere and at last but not least  greetings =
from Avdeyev in english.=20

Communications during the last pass for my position on 26.08.99:=20

 Afanasyev: We connected that cable. TsUP refers to radiogram nr. 9962.=20

Avdeyev: I am reading this radiogram now. TsUP: we are waiting for =
telemetry.=20

Avdeyev: We changed the BMP (Unit for the detection of noxious =
admixtures)  in the Base Block with that one of Module Kristall.=20

Avdeyev: On your command we will switch on the ZRU (device for loading =
and unloading of accumulator batteries).

Then Haignere takes over and has a long converation with his wife =
Claudie. He says that he is a little bit tired.  He hopes that the =
weather in the landing zone will be good. It has been rainy over there =
and   normally there is only one rainy day a year, he would not be =
amused if this would be so during the landing. Claudie sets him at ease: =
there are just some clouds and the temperature is 16 degrees C. =
Jean-Pierre says that 16 degrees makes it necessary to order a sweater.  =
During this conversation Avdeyev breaks in for a while to say hello to =
Claudie and also we will meet soon!

Unmanned status MIR-space station: =20

Regularly I will adjust the predictions and check whether there is =
telemetry in the 166 and 165 mc bands. And of course I will be alert for =
an eventual rescue mission. Such a mission will be inevitable if =
something inside the MIR-complex is going wrong.=20

In a few days TsUP will switch off the Ts.V.M.-1, the main computer, and =
stop the gyrodynes. Thus the complex will come in the free drift and the =
BUPO (Unit for control, docking and orientation) has to take over (or =
did this already).=20

Let us keep our fingers crossed!

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

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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2><BR>MIRNEWS.468&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
29 AUGUST&nbsp; 1999</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>MIR-FINALE:&nbsp; Separation of =
Soyuz-TM29 took=20
place on 27.08.99 at 2117UTC. On board the crew of the 27th Main =
Expedition to=20
MIR.&nbsp; This concluded the last manned period which lasted from =
6.09.89. (I=20
neglected the very short unmanned period during redockings of=20
Soyuz-ships)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Nearly 3 hours before the crew left =
the=20
MIR-space station and closed the hatches behind them. With a TV camera, =
which=20
had been installed in the P.Kh.O. (transition section) on 19.08.1999, =
remote=20
controled by TsUP, transmissions were made of&nbsp; the crew entering =
the=20
Soyuz-TM29 and the closure of the outer hatch by Afanasyev (at=20
1815UTC).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>The landing at a distance of approx. =
80 KM east=20
of Arkalyk took place after 2 autonomous orbits on 28.08.99 at =
00.34.54UTC.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>As always during return operations =
when no=20
geostationary communication satellite is available (Altair-1 and =
Altair-2 are=20
out of order),&nbsp; there would be no radiotraffic within my range if =
the=20
landing had taken place in time.&nbsp; But nevertheless I was ready to =
monitor=20
traffic if the Russians would put back the descent until the 2nd or 3rd=20
opportunity.&nbsp; This happened during the return flights of&nbsp; =
S-TM5 with=20
Lyakhov/Makhmond and the S-TM6 with Titov/Manarov/Chretien.&nbsp; In =
both cases=20
I got downlink from&nbsp; the ship (and comments from the MIR-crew) on =
121.750=20
mc. So I did what almost everybody could do that night: follow the live =
events=20
via CNN.&nbsp; CNN got&nbsp; TV images of the crew still on board MIR =
and=20
boarding the S-TM29 and de undocking and spring controled moving away. =
These=20
images came via relays from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka. There were no live =
TV=20
images from the descent operation and the landing. Even those who =
attended the=20
operation at TsUP did not see anything.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Russians had to =
pay too=20
much and&nbsp; also CNES did not want to meet the demands.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>So CNN continued broadcasting =
irrelevant items=20
and the unavoidable hotels, so I had to tap other sources to be sure =
that it was=20
not necessary to remain on duty for eventual radio communications due to =
a=20
delay.&nbsp; As soon as I heard that the landing had taken place in =
time, I sank=20
down on my bunk. Though I was satified that the brave men of MIR 27 had =
returned=20
to earth in good health, I fell asleep with mixed feelings.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>My short night's rest ended =
precisely at=20
0624UTC.&nbsp; Without setting my alarm-clock, my inner alarm woke me up =
at the=20
beginning of MIR-s pass for my position in orbit 77275. Belief it or not =
but I=20
stumbled to my communications gear and monitored the radio-amateur =
frequencies=20
145.985 and 145.940 mc. Like thousands of radio-amateurs all over the =
world, I=20
hoped that the Packet Radio installation on board still was operational. =

</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR>Regretfully this was not so. In =
fact, I=20
should have known so, during the last radio-amateur sessions there was =
not a=20
single&nbsp; indication that these transmissions would continue.=20
</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>TsUP was willing to give =
permission&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
only if they would have the possibility to switch off the&nbsp; =
system&nbsp;=20
when needed.&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>MIR-routine during the last =
days:&nbsp; The=20
amount of radio-traffic was&nbsp; enormous until and inclusive 26.08.99. =
The=20
cosmonauts waited with the conservation of the modules Kvant-2 =
(module-D) and=20
Kristall (module-T) until the evening of 26.08.99. The main part of that =
day was=20
dedicated to the replacement of equipment (mainly filters of the life =
support=20
systems) and all kinds of&nbsp;&nbsp; checks, for instance the valves of =
the=20
gyrodynes. Connections in the Base Block and in the module Kvant-1 =
(module-E)=20
had to be disconnected,&nbsp; and the Elektron oxygen generator in =
Kvant-1 was=20
switched off. This all emerged in radio conversations with TsUP from =
where many=20
specialist fired a lot of instructions or demands at the cosmonauts and =
so every=20
minute of these working days was overloaded. On 26.08.99 Haignere spent =
more=20
than 3 hours for the preparation of equipment which he had to bring back =
to=20
earth. For me it turned out better than expected that the workload did =
not=20
result in stress (as far as I could hear) or unpleasant incidents. In =
his=20
contacts with the French consultative group, Haignere now and then used =
the word=20
'panique'.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>For me the last day of possible=20
radio-traffic,&nbsp; 27.08.99, was an anticlimax. I sharply listened out =
on all=20
frequencies during windows for my position, but there was no traffic at =
all on=20
the service channels. Only a few radio-amateur transmissions, for =
instance SSTV=20
images, Packet Radio, some phone from Haignere and at last but not =
least&nbsp;=20
greetings from Avdeyev in english. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Communications during the last pass =
for my=20
position on 26.08.99: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;Afanasyev: We connected that =
cable. TsUP=20
refers to radiogram nr. 9962. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Avdeyev: I am reading this radiogram =
now. TsUP:=20
we are waiting for telemetry. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Avdeyev: We changed the BMP (Unit =
for the=20
detection of noxious admixtures)&nbsp; in the Base Block with that one =
of Module=20
Kristall. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Avdeyev: On your command we will =
switch on the=20
ZRU (device for loading and unloading of accumulator =
batteries).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Then Haignere takes over and has a =
long=20
converation with his wife Claudie. He says that he is a little bit =
tired.&nbsp;=20
He hopes that the weather in the landing zone will be good. It has been =
rainy=20
over there and&nbsp;&nbsp; normally there is only one rainy day a year, =
he would=20
not be amused if this would be so during the landing. Claudie sets him =
at ease:=20
there are just some clouds and the temperature is 16 degrees C. =
Jean-Pierre says=20
that 16 degrees makes it necessary to order a sweater.&nbsp; During this =

conversation Avdeyev breaks in for a while to say hello to Claudie and =
also we=20
will meet soon!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Unmanned status MIR-space =
station:&nbsp;=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Regularly I will adjust the =
predictions and=20
check whether there is telemetry in the 166 and 165 mc bands. And of =
course I=20
will be alert for an eventual rescue mission. Such a mission will be =
inevitable=20
if something inside the MIR-complex is going wrong. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR>In a few days TsUP will switch =
off the=20
Ts.V.M.-1, the main computer, and stop the gyrodynes. Thus the complex =
will come=20
in the free drift and the BUPO (Unit for control, docking and =
orientation) has=20
to take over (or did this already). </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Let us keep our fingers =
crossed!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Chris van den Berg,=20
NL-9165/A-UK3202<BR></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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