MIRNEWS.280 16 NOVEMBER 1995 Atlantis/MIR: The 2d link-up of shuttle Atlantis (now on mission STS-74) has been executed flawlessly on 15.11.95. The erection and docking of the Russian dockingmodule at the docking unit in the cargobay of Atlantis had been accomplished by the Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield on 14.11.95, thus making the dockingoperation with MIR possible. The softdocking (capture) took place on 15.11.95 at 062749UTC. The MIR-crew had switched of the movementscontrol system of the complex for correction movements of the huge complex might damage the 'soft' connections. Atlantis approached MIR's Kristall-module (Module-T) from beneath with a speed of not more than 7 cm/sec. It was an instrumental approach with a minimum of correction impulses by the shuttle. At 0648UTC Atlantis reported 'hard mate', meaning that Atlan tis was connected with MIR as firm as a rock. After 2 hours in which the airseal of compartments and dockingsystems had been checked the hatches between the 2 complexes could be opened and the crews met each other. The MIR crew welcomed the Americans with bread and salt, an old Russian tradition. Radiotraffic: As usual, but this time in particular, again a goose-flesh causing experience: to do all what I wished to do I needed more antennae, receivers, ears and recorders. Before the docking as well as thereafter MIR transmitted on 3 frequencies. Thomas Reiter reported in english about the docking operation on 145.550 mc, MIR communicated with Atlantis on 130.165 mc (VHF-2) and with TsUP on 143.625 mc (VHF-1). At abt. 30 minutes after the opening of the hatches there was a radiosession with Houston (where Sergey Krikalyov was active as an adviser) with congratulations, good wishes and so on. The 2 crews will work together if they have to do so according to program, but the 2 units remain 'autonomously'. The mutual activities of the crews mainly consist of the exchange of supplies and cargo delivered by the Atlantis and the transfer of goods, experiments etc. which have to be brought to earth by Atlantis. The flightschedule: It was very difficult to lay hands on this for the 'furlough' of a lot of American public servants almost fully paralysed the PR- and Informationservices of NASA. 18.11.95 at 0816UTC Atlantis will separate from MIR leaving the delivered dockingmodule behind for future Shuttle-MIR docking operations. At 1001UTC the separation burn will take place. Between 0816 and 1001UTC both crews can observe and inspect each others vehicles and Atlantis will drift away from MIR. De-orbit burn is planned for Monday 20.11 at 1631UTC and if so Atlantis will land on the SLF of KSC at 1731UTC. Communications: During the periods in which Atlantis and MIR still can see each other, radio-traffic might be possible on 130.165 and 121.750 and/or on the radio-amateur frequencies. Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.