MIRNEWS.295    24 MARCH 1996

ATLANTIS DOCKED AT MIR:

The Atlantis (STS-76) flawlessly docked to the MIR space
station on 24.03.1996 at 023420UTC. The Atlantis docked at the
docking compartment on the module Kristall.

Communications:

20 minutes after the launch of Atlantis on
22.03.1996 at 0813UTC Kelvin Clinton could be heard on the
frequency 259.700 mc (AM). Between 0833 and 0842UTC he reported
a problem with one of the APU-s (Auxiliary Power Unit),
which had to be switched off and he announced an orbitcorrection
OMS-2. This traffic took place within our range for it
was relayed via a station in Spain (the first alternative
landing facility after launch).
Before the docking MIR communicated with Atlantis on 130.165
mc. During the last stage of the approach MIR used this frequency
to communicate with the FCC-s in Houston and Moscow.
For this purpose MIR also used the 143.625 mc. For radiotraf
fic from Atlantis the American TDRS-es are used. During all
passes for our position after the docking MIR used the above
mentioned frequencies. During the pass in orbit 54675, 0402-
0410UTC Onufriyenko asked permission to open the hatches to
the docking compartment. At 0406UTC O. got this permission and
the MIR crew opened the hatches. During the next pass all
astronauts were on board MIR. Shannon Lucid will remain there
as the 3d member of MIR's Main Expedition nr. 21, her call
will be Skif-3. (callsign for Hamwork still to be decided).

Activities:

Immediately the MIR-crew started the deployment of
the airhoses to different compartments of the huge complex.
Both crews also started the transportation of supplies from
Atlantis to MIR and goods which have to go to earth by Atlantis
from MIR to the shuttle. On 27.03 Linda Godwin and Rich
Clifford will make a spacewalk (EVA) which will last abt 6
hours (0545-1145UTC). They will use the Safer backpack which
will enable them to move in open space untethered. They will
install the so called MEEP-s on the outersurface of the docking
compartment of MIR. (The 4 MEEP-packages consist of
materials which will be used for the International Space
Station Alpha.)

EVA frequencies:

279.000mc (AM), backup frequ.: 296.800 mc
(AM) and 243.000 mc (AM) emergency channel.

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