MIRNEWS.281    26 NOVEMBER 1995

Repairwork:

Last week the gyrodynes had been switched off due
to repairwork. So for the movementscontrol little steeringroc
kets had to be used. There has been no traffic via the geosta
tionaries: Luch -23426/94082A and Altair. This had not been
caused by the work on the gyrodyna's.

Communications:

Reason for the fact that the 'geo-s' (SR-s as
the Russians use to say) were not operational last week had
something to do with 'maintenance of those systems'. I heard
different explanations: TsUP stated that it was caused by
maintenance work on the satellites. ESA and the astronaut
Flade (during a visit at Estec Noordwijk) received a message
that the antennae of the Luches had to be re-adjusted. Before
the docking mission of Atlantis the aiming of those antennae
had been changed for (unclear) operational reasons. The fact
that the launchdate of Atlantis had been put back some times
meant that the work to re-adjust the antennae also had to be
postponed and took place last week. Due to the unserviceable
status of Luch-1 (94082A) the planned communicationsession
with MIR of the 'Classroom in space' in the framework of the
'Eurisy forum' on ESA/Estec Noordwijk had to be cancelled.
(That planned live connection had to take place on 25.11.95
between 1340-1400UT so during a window in which Luch-1 and MIR
could 'see' eachother.)
From communications between MIR and TsUP via VHF I could
derive the fact that the MIR crew has the opportunity to use
one or more tracking stations in the U.S.A. to relay traffic
to TsUP. (This took place on 20.11.1995 at 1219UTC. The crew
spoke about 'Houston').

Orbitcorrection:

Progress-M30 probably will be used to correct
MIR's orbit on appr. 10.12.1995.

Progress-M30:

The launch of this cargoship is on schedule for
13.12.1995. If so and the flight on the 1d day does not give
problems the separation and 'decay' of the Progress-M29 can be
expected to take place on 14.12.1995.

Spacewalk (EVA):

Possibly on 8.12.1995; no confirmation thus
far. The Russians will do this EVA for the replacement of a
dockingcone.

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