MIRNEWS.245    15 FEBRUARY 1995

Progress-M26 launched:

The freighter Pr-M26 has been launched from Baykonur on 15.02.1995
at 164827UTC. During the pass between 2252 and 2259UTC
the transmissions in the 166, 165 and 922 Mc band could be
monitored. Pr-M26 has to deliver new supplies to the MIR
station, i.e. water, fuel, oxygen, oxidisers, food, but also
materials for the extension of the on board systems, repairma
terial for the drinking water installation, post and a new
board documentation, medical goods, underwear etc. and an
amount of 132 KG hard- and software for the experiments of the
American Thagard. The enormous cargo made it impossible to
equip Pr-M26 with a VBK (ballistic return capsule).

Progress-M25:

This freighter will separate from MIR on
16.02.1995 at 1303UTC and will be deorbited at 1606UTC for
decay in the atmosphere over the Pacific. In this way the aft
(Kvant-1) docking port of the complex will be made available
for the arrival of the Pr-M26.

Estimated docking time: Pr-M26 has to dock to the MIR station
on 17.02.1995 at 1821UTC.

MIR:

On 10.02.1995 at 183542UTC the orbit of MIR has been
corrected a little bit. With an impuls of 2m/sec the period
changed from 92.3 mins to 92.39 mins.

New Keplers:

Epoch 95043.6810782, decayrate: 0.00046585, incl
51.6467, raan 61.6530, ecc. 0.0005015, arg per 116.1404, ma
244.1203, mm 15.57626647, rev. nr. 51354.

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