MIRNEWS.115    5 DECEMBER 1991

SOLARPANEL DAMAGED BY SPACE PARTICLE:

On 4 Dec. 1991 during pass in orb. 33171 (1103UTC) Volkov spoke with a Pyotr
(might have been Klimuk) about the Ukraine. Volkov made a passing reference to
the fact, that the crew discovered 2 small holes in one of the solarpanels of
Module-D. About this damage the cosmonauts spoke during the first 3 passes on 5
Dec. 1991. They made images with a TV camera, but these were not good enough for
analyses.
To get better images the cosmonauts had to install a special camera in the
transistion section (P.Kh.O.) and therefor they had to deploy and connect a
cable. In Krikalyov's opinion the only way to get a good insight in the damage
a space-walk (EVA) will be necessary. On 5 Dec. they spoke about 2 great holes
and 1 small hole. Krikalyov even uttered the possibility that the damage has
been arisen during the period in which the American Spaceshuttle 44, Atlantis,
had to alter course to avoid a collision with the 3d stage of a Soviet rocket
launched long ago. So again a substantional problem for the cosmonauts. For a
long time the crew are struggling with the water regeneration system Elektron
and the attitude control of the complex. During the last days MIR almost
permanently remained in sunlight and for the orientation of the sensors they
used sun-vectors.

DIVERTING CAPABILITIES OF THE MIR-COMPLEX IN CASE OF 'COLLISION DANGER':

In comparison with the American (and Soviet-) Space Shuttles the MIR-station is
a 'lame duck'. Even if Norad (or its Soviet opposite side) would warn MIR and
TsUP for an object on collision course a quick diverting manoeuvre cannot be
executed (within a few minutes). With the engines of the freighter Progress-M
and the ferry Soyuz-TM the altitude of the complex can be altered, but this
process lasts too long for comfort. The present crew consist of flegmatic and
crisisproof cosmonauts and they seem not to bother about this all. During radio
amateur conversatons they state that all is going well.

1ST STAGE ENERGIYA ROCKET BLOWN UP DURING FIRETEST:

This news comes from a radiologist in Omsk, N. Spinov. S., also a member of the
State Committee for Ecology, reported that on 20 November 1991 near the village
Krutaya Gorka (55 KM from the Siberian town Omsk) the 1st stage of the Energiya
rocket exploded due to a failure in the cooling system. In a huge orange cloud
the heath of the explosion dispersed and S. demands a detailed investigation for
during the last years the number of persons suffering of cancer alarmingly
increased.
(The 1st stage of the Energiya consist of 4 'strap on' boosters, each of which
is a modified version of the 1st stage of the Zenith (SL-16) rocket. Fuel is
kerosine, oxydiser LOX).

Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.