MIRNEWS.351    21 MARCH 1997

MIR-routine:

Gradually the passes of MIR for our area shifted to the nighthours, but
nevertheless a lot of radiotraffic could be monitored since the last MIR-
report. This traffic revealed that the only system for the production of
oxygen is the solid fuel oxygen generator. The crew coordinates the use
of the so called 'shashki' (disks) with TsUP and daily abt 3 of those
'cartridges' are 'burnt'. In the beginning they still tried to activate
the only operational Elektron to generate oxygen from 'technical' water,
but possibly the gas-analysers reported that the quality of the
production did not reach the desired standards and they had to stop these
attempts. They seem to have enough 'shashki' until the arrival of new
supplies but they cannot use all availble cartridges. They got orders to
refrain from the use of those produced in the years after the decay of
the Soviet Union.

Progress-M34:

The launch of this badly needed freighter is on schedule for 6.04.1997.
It is not sure whether or not spareparts (filters a.s.o.) are ready
before that launch. The Pr-M34 will also have to deliver a new Antares
transmitter for communications via the now only availble Altair (nr. 2)
satellite.

Communications:

The present position of Altair-2 is over 94 dgrs East. For
dockingoperations of Soyuz-TM ships and shuttles, but also for the
communications during EVA-s and the morale of the crew a position more to
West, for instance in the slot of Altair-1 (Cosmos-2054) would be more
suitable.

Movements control:

On 19.03.1997 during the pass in orbit 63298, Tsibliyev reported a
malfunction of an Omega angular rate sensor. At 0448UTC the SUD
(movements control system) showed a failure and the complex came in an
inexplicable rotation. Apart from one the gyrodynes were still working,
but obviously unable to correct the stations attitude. During the next
pass (in orb. 63300, 0856-0906UTC) the crew got orders to shut down the
gyrodynes. The station came in a so called free drift and from there the
attitude had to be corrected by steering jets. These events caused a
decrease of electrical power due to bad orientation of the solarbatteries
towards the sun. So for some hours the crew had to restrain power
consumption. Next day's radiotraffic revealed that the situation was
almost under control. The crew worked hard to make another Omega sensor
operational and doing so they met a lot of problems with the deployment
of cables.

Jerry Linnenger:

In contradtion to the beginning of his mission contacts of Jerry with the
American consulatitve group at TsUP Moscow could not be monitored for
some weeks.

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