MIRNEWS.173    7 MAY 1993

PROGRESS-M18:

Launch of this freighter for a 2-days flight to MIR is scheduled for 19.05.93.
On 21.05.93 docking to the forward docking port (Transition section, P.Kh.O.).
Approach and docking by Manakov using the TORU-system. Pr-M18 will
deliver the normal cargo to MI ...

PROGRESS-M17:

This freighter is still attached to the aft docking port (Kvant-1) and in
contradiction to previous Progress operations this time Pr-M17 will NOT
separate from MIR but remain there even after the docking of Pr-M18.
The new configuration with the Soyuz-TM16 docked to the Kristall (Module-T)
makes it possible to have 2 freighters docked to the MIR station.

SPACEWALKS:

Thusfar no decision has been made when the next EVA will take place. It might
even be possible that the next EVA will be done by the next crew, so not before
the end of July this year.

Stabilisation- and orientation experiments:

The situation in which 3 little ships are docked to MIR together (S-TM16,
Pr-M17 and Pr-M18) makes it possible to do experiments in the field of
stabilisation and orientation. With these tests the Russians want to gather
information about the behaviour of the MIR-complex and demonstrate, also to
foreign experts, what is possible and what is impossible.
At this point it is still not known which of the freighters will undock from MIR and
decay first. This separation will take place on 3.07.93 just before the arrival of the
relief crew and the French cosmonaut Haignere. Before docking the S-TM17 will make
After departure of Pr-M17 or Pr-M18 the ship S-TM17 will dock to the just freed dockingport.

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