MIRNEWS.120    31 JANUARY 1992

STAFF TSUP PROTESTING AGAINST LOW WAGES:

On 27 Jan. 1992, the day on which the docking of a freigher to the MIR-station
had been planned the staff of TsUP protested against the fact that they are
underpaid. They did not strike, but expressed their grievances by transparants
in the main control room. For a long time a lot of press-agencies, even the
English section of Radio Moscow, spoke about a strike, which might hamper the
planned. It would be irresponsible to strike during such crucial operations, in
fact TsUP always has to be alert to cope with unexpected problems with the
MIR-station. The staff indeed had something like a strike in mind and they will
decide what to do around 11 Febr. 1992. It certainly will be no strike, but for
a instance a refusal to cooperate in experiments.

PROGRESS-M11 DOCKED TO MIR-STATION:

On 27 Jan. 1992 at 0931UTC after a perfect Kurs-approach, Pr-M11 docked to the
forward (PKhO) port of the MIR complex. The approach was going on during the
pass in orb. 34014, 0921-0927UTC. During the final stage of the approach the
crew did not give comments, for TsUP received TV-images taken from the Pr-M11
and the navigational data via the chain: Pr-M11 - MIR - Luch. Until 0921UTC the
approach of Pr-M11 could be observed by OM Peter Jansen, PE1MQC, who monitored
Luch downlink. The crew communicated simulanuously via Luch and VHF and already
during the next pass (orb. 34015, 1053-1104UTC) they reported that they already
had been in the Pr-M11 and that all was in good order and clean. They also
looked for the package Biokrist (protein crystallisation experiments)
transported to MIR under responsibility of the American firm Payload systems.
One of the experiments has been prepared by the University of Nijmegen, the
Netherlands. All what will be necessary for the German cosmonaut in March 1992
and a part of what is needed by the Frenchman in July 1992 also was on board of
Pr-M11. Among a lot of spare parts for the repair of systems on board the
complex, components needed to mend the malfunctioning gyrodynes. As always the
cosmonauts this time also received fuel, oxygen, food, post a.s.o. This time
there was no room in Pr-M11 for a returncapsule. This will be the last
freighter to be received by the present crew.

ORBITCORRECTION:

A day after its arrival the Progress-M11 has been used to put the MIR complex
in a higher orbit. So Keplers older than 28 Jan. 1992 cannot be used any more.

PROTEIN CRYSTALLISATION EXPERIMENTS:

About this subject the cosmonauts had long conversations with a non-russian
lady in TsUP. 
Via Luch could be observed how the cosmonauts unpacked the Payload
package and the manuals and certificate also have been shown.
On 31 January 1992 the cosmonauts already were working with those experiments.

C.M. van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.