Subject: mirnews.469
From: "C.M. vd Berg" <[email-masked]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 16:46:29 -0400 (EDT)

Dit is een meerdelig bericht in MIME-indeling.

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MIRNEWS.469                                                              =
     6 SEPTEMBER 1999

Change-over of  movements  regime  and other systems on board MIR-space =
station:

On 7.09.1999 (Moscow time) a number of systems will be switched off. The =
Ts.V.M.-1 (the Main OBC)  will be replaced by the B.U.P.O. (Unit for =
Control  of Dockings and Orientation). As far as the scarce information =
permitted, I gave an explanation of that system in my MIRNEWS.465 of =
10.08.99. In fact the B.U.P.O. is a computer and not just an interface.  =
  Until 28.08.99 the crew (mostly the commander) had to load control =
commands into the Ts.V.M.-1 read out for them  by TsUP.  These commands =
enabled the computer to control the attitude of the complex and the =
optimum efficiency of the solar batteries. During the unmanned status of =
the space station, TsUP will load these commands into the B.U.P.O. to =
control the movements of the complex, also by steering rockets and the =
external thruster  V.D.U.  to control the roll (rotations around the =
X-axis).

On 31.07.99 the B.U.P.O. had been installed prematurely. Due to a =
mistake at TsUP the Ts.V.M.-1 failed and this was an opportunity to =
install the B.U.P.O., for during that installation the Ts.V.M.-1 had to =
be off  anyhow.  After the installation there came not much information =
on that system.   The good functioning was reported, but radio traffic =
did not reveal whether the system was already operational.  Meanwhile =
the gyrodynes were still in use for the movements control of the =
complex.=20

So on 7.09.99 the Ts.V.M.-1 and the gyrodynes will be switched off. This =
means that the complex will enter the so called 'free drift', or as the =
Russians say 'indikatornyy rezhim' (indicator mode). The responsible =
flight controller  at TsUP has to load the control  commands into the =
B.U.P.O.  for the stability of the complex or at least to maintain the =
eventual spinning within acceptable limits. It is  still unclear to me =
if they will make some use of the gyrodynes (for instance those in the =
Base Block and/or Kvant-1) for movements control.=20

The freighter Progress-M42, still attached to the complex,  will be used =
to raise  the orbit of the complex if needed. Theoretically the steering =
rockets of the Pr-M42 also can be  under direct guidance from the =
Progress-M control room at TsUP. (in the past the Soyuz-TM ships have =
been used for that purpose).  But in my opinion this will not take place =
via the B.U.P.O.

Other systems: The power delivered by the S.E.P. (system for power =
supply)  will be  reduced during the 'free drift' and consequently a lot =
of systems have to be switched off.=20
(During the last weeks before their return to earth, the cosmonauts =
replaced 2 accumulator batteries in the base block.)

The following systems will  continue to work:

The S.O.T.R. (system for thermo regulation),  the Telemetry system and =
the radio channel for the transmissions of commands (Telekommandnaya =
Liniya).=20

But what can we humble earthlings do?  Wait and sit it out or:

1.  Radio observers: To try to check as much as possible the telemetry =
frequencies during passes of the MIR-complex. (So like the nurse on duty =
in the intensive care: to be sure that there is still life.)
2. Visual observers: To do as much visual observations as possible to =
determine whether the complex is spinning and if so, at what rate.=20
3.  To use all possible well informed sources to ask dozens of questions =
about MIR.
     (in the beginning of October this year we can do that in Amsterdam =
during the 50th congress of the IAF or the ASE-congress in Romania. )

Hereby very new 2-line elements:
=20
MIR                    =20
1 16609U 86017A   99246.61099712  .00045650  00000-0  34340-3 0  8423
2 16609  51.6612 301.9993 0004593 311.0449  49.0179 15.72062698773757

Frequencies:

In the 166 and 165 mc bands,  peaks of PCM/FM telemetry around 166.130 =
and 165.873 mc.=20
Same transmissions possible around 636 and 638 mc. Monitoring 922.760 mc =
might be useful.=20
=20
Progress-M42:  Also in the 166 and 165 mc bands and around 922.750 mc. =20

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

=20
 =20

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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>MIRNEWS.469&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nb=
sp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
6 SEPTEMBER 1999</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Change-over of&nbsp; movements&nbsp; =

regime&nbsp; and other systems on board MIR-space station:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>On 7.09.1999 (Moscow time) a number =
of systems=20
will be switched off. The Ts.V.M.-1 (the Main OBC)&nbsp; will be =
replaced by the=20
B.U.P.O. (Unit for Control&nbsp; of Dockings and Orientation). As far as =
the=20
scarce information permitted, I gave an explanation of that system in my =

MIRNEWS.465 of 10.08.99. In fact the B.U.P.O. is a computer and not just =
an=20
interface.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Until 28.08.99 the crew (mostly the =
commander) had=20
to load control commands into the Ts.V.M.-1 read out for them&nbsp; by=20
TsUP.&nbsp; These commands enabled the computer to control the attitude =
of the=20
complex and the optimum efficiency of the solar batteries. During the =
unmanned=20
status of the space station, TsUP will load these commands into the =
B.U.P.O. to=20
control the movements of the complex, also by steering rockets and the =
external=20
thruster&nbsp; V.D.U.&nbsp; to control the roll (rotations around the=20
X-axis).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>On 31.07.99 the B.U.P.O. had been =
installed=20
prematurely. Due to a mistake at TsUP the Ts.V.M.-1 failed and this was =
an=20
opportunity to install the B.U.P.O., for during that installation the =
Ts.V.M.-1=20
had to be off&nbsp; anyhow.&nbsp; After the installation there came not =
much=20
information on that system.&nbsp;&nbsp; The good functioning was =
reported, but=20
radio traffic did not reveal whether the system was already =
operational.&nbsp;=20
Meanwhile the gyrodynes were still in use for the movements control of =
the=20
complex. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>So on 7.09.99 the Ts.V.M.-1 and the =
gyrodynes=20
will be switched off. This means that the complex will enter the so =
called 'free=20
drift', or as the Russians say 'indikatornyy rezhim' (indicator mode). =
The=20
responsible flight controller&nbsp; at TsUP has to load the =
control&nbsp;=20
commands into the B.U.P.O.&nbsp; for the stability of the complex or at =
least to=20
maintain the eventual spinning within acceptable limits. It is&nbsp; =
still=20
unclear to me if they will make some use of the gyrodynes (for instance =
those in=20
the Base Block and/or Kvant-1) for movements control. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>The freighter Progress-M42, still =
attached to=20
the complex,&nbsp; will be used to raise&nbsp; the orbit of the complex =
if=20
needed. Theoretically the steering rockets of the Pr-M42 also can =
be&nbsp; under=20
direct guidance from the Progress-M control room at TsUP. (in the past =
the=20
Soyuz-TM ships have been used for that purpose).&nbsp; But in my opinion =
this=20
will not take place via the B.U.P.O.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Other systems: The power delivered =
by the S.E.P.=20
(system for power supply)&nbsp; will be&nbsp; reduced during the 'free =
drift'=20
and consequently a lot of systems have to be switched off. <BR>(During =
the last=20
weeks before their return to earth, the cosmonauts replaced 2 =
accumulator=20
batteries in the base block.)</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>The following systems will&nbsp; =
continue to=20
work:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR>The S.O.T.R. (system for thermo=20
regulation),&nbsp; the Telemetry system and the radio channel for the=20
transmissions of commands (Telekommandnaya Liniya). </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>But what can we humble earthlings =
do?&nbsp; Wait=20
and sit it out or:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>1.&nbsp; Radio observers: To try to =
check as=20
much as possible the telemetry frequencies during passes of the =
MIR-complex. (So=20
like the nurse on duty in the intensive care: to be sure that there is =
still=20
life.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>2. Visual observers: To do as much =
visual=20
observations as possible to determine whether the complex is spinning =
and if so,=20
at what rate. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>3.&nbsp; To use all possible well =
informed=20
sources to ask dozens of questions about =
MIR.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (in=20
the beginning of October this year we can do that in Amsterdam during =
the 50th=20
congress of the IAF or the ASE-congress in Romania. )</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Hereby very new 2-line elements:<BR> =

<BR>MIR&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
<BR>1 16609U 86017A&nbsp;&nbsp; 99246.61099712&nbsp; .00045650&nbsp;=20
00000-0&nbsp; 34340-3 0&nbsp; 8423<BR>2 16609&nbsp; 51.6612 301.9993 =
0004593=20
311.0449&nbsp; 49.0179 15.72062698773757</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Frequencies:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>In the 166 and 165 mc bands,&nbsp; =
peaks of=20
PCM/FM telemetry around 166.130 and 165.873 mc. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Same transmissions possible around =
636 and 638=20
mc. Monitoring 922.760 mc might be useful. <BR> <BR>Progress-M42:&nbsp; =
Also in=20
the 166 and 165 mc bands and around 922.750 mc.&nbsp; =
</FONT>&nbsp;</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</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR> <BR>&nbsp; </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2><BR></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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