MIRNEWS.248    22 MARCH 1995

SOYUZ-TM20 returned to Earth:

The S-TM20 made a safe landing at abt 50 KM from the city
Arkalyk in Kazakhstan on 22.03.1995 at 0405UTC. S-TM20 landed
only 10KM from the estimated aimingpoint. The returnoperation
was executed as planned: On 21.03.1995 at 2135UTC closing of
the hatches, 22.03.1995 at 0040UTC separation from the MIR-
station, 0315UTC starting engines to reduce speed to start
descent and a safe landing at 0405UTC. In the hour before the
landing (between 0306 and 0349UTC) radiotraffic of S-TM20 with
TsUP via MIR and Altair could be monitored. Viktorenko and
Kondakova reported the operational data, Kondakova having the
lion's share. Emancipation as far as spaceflight is concerned
has been successfully concluded! Separation of motorcompart
ment and lifecompartment at 033955UTC. Just before reentry the
ANAN-rescue beacon could be heard. From 0340UTC radiosilence
caused by the plasma-heath.

Records:

Dr. Polyakov fulfilled 438 days in space during 1 flight, so
72 days more than Titov and Manarov (366 days at a stretch).
Kondakova was 169 days in space.

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