MIRNEWS.199    10 DECEMBER 1993

PROGRESS-M21:

For a long time we expected the launch of the freighter towards
the end of November 1993. Due to economic and other problems this
launch has been put back. The launch is now on schedule for
26.01.1994, so long after the relief of the present crew.

SOYUZ-TM18:

This ship will be launched for a flight to the MIR-station on
6.01.1994. If all goes according to the original planning the
relief crew will consist of 3 cosmonauts. One of them is a doctor
(Polyakov or Arazamov) who must remain in space for 1.5 year.
Whether the crew will consist of 2 or 3 cosmonauts is not sure
for 100%.

MIR-routine:

In this period MIR's passes are in the nighthours. The crew is
still busy in keeping the station operational. They have to pay
a lot of attention to the lifesupport systems: airpressure- and
aircomposition and the waterregenerationsystems Elektron and
S.R.V.-U.

Visit of the American vice-president to TsUP:

The Russians very badly need financial support from the United
States for the upgrading of the partly wornout MIR-station. So
they are very pleased that vice-president Gore will visit
Kaliningrad near Moscow around 14.12.93. He will also visit the
flightcontrol centre TsUP.

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