MIRNEWS.389    9 OCTOBER 1997

Progress-M36:

On 8.10 at 17.07.40UTC, so 7 minutes earlier than planned, this freighter
docked at MIR's aft docking port (+X axis). Approach and docking took
place in the automatic mode by the system Kurs. Solovyov was ready to
take over manually with TORU in case of a Kurs failure. During the
operation the crew stayed in the Base Block. The opening of the hatches
was put back until 9.10 at 0830UTC.

Spacewalks (EVA's):

For a while an external EVA was scheduled for 16.10, but this plan was
cancelled. The first EVA (in fact an IVA) will take place inside the
module Spektr and will be made on 20.10 at 0900UTC. Depending on the
results of that IVA the Russians will determine date and working method
for the following EVA. During that EVA the cosmonauts will 'jettison' the
miniature Sputnik, recently delivered by Progress-M36.

Radio-amateurtraffic:

The Packet radio on 145.985 mc is very active and now and then this
transmitter is used for phone. David Wolf, also using the call R0MIR,
already has a liking for these activities.

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