MIRNEWS.444    27 OCTOBER 1998

Progress-M40:

This freighter linked up with the MIR-space station on 27.10.1998 at
05.43.42UTC. Approach and docking were executed in the automatic mode with the
system Kurs. During the pass for my position (the Hague) could be heard how
the cosmonauts observed the approaching Progress-M40. They also took images
with the LIV camera. At the beginning of this pass (in orb. MIR.72476) from
0530-0537UTC the distance to MIR's aft docking port was 152 Meters, at LOS
this distance was approx. 113 Meters.

A calm Padalka regularly reported that all was going well. During this pass
the beacon transmitter of Pr-M40 on 922.755 mc could be heard, so obviously
this transmitter does not interfere with the Kurstransponders.

During the next pass in orb. 72477, 0702-0712UTC, it was clear that the docking
had been a success and that the hatches to the Pr-M40 already were open.These
had been opened between 0620 and 0630UTC. The crew enjoyed a nice winterly
smell of the air which reached them from the Progress-M40. The cosmonauts
already had installed the protection caps and TsUP gave them permission to
load some orientation commands in the control computer. They also loaded
commands for the aiming of the ONA (the narrow beam antenna for contact with
the geostationary satellite). This had something to do with the fact that
communications via Luch-1/Gelios had not been satisfactory. The cosmonauts
also started unloading the Pr-M40.

Communications:

During passes of Pr-M40 on 26.10.1998 the transmitters in the
166, 165 and 922.755 mc bands easily could be monitored.

Radio-amateur equipment:

TsUP reported that the mini-sputnik, almost the same
as the Sputnik-40 and the promised gear for SSTV experiment could not be
transported to MIR with this Pr-M. Other items, for instance the experiments
for the French- and Slovak expeditions and a French device for the measurement
of meteorite streams had a higher priority.

2nd Spacewalk (EVA), (the 1st one was an IVA, the internal spacewalk in the Spektr):

The French sensors for the detection of meteorites must be installed at the
outer surface of the MIR-complex. This EVA was put forward to have this
experiment operational during the Leonid meteorites around 17.11.1998. The EVA
will be made in the night from 10 to 11.11.1998 and will last approx. 5 hours.
A second task during this EVA will be the dismantling and retrieving of Russian
experiments from outside.

Progress-M39:

This old freighter undocked from MIR on 25.10.1998 at
23.03.24UTC. Indeed the Russians manoeuvred a lot with this ship after the
undocking. The ship flawlessly responded on steering commands and the crew made
video-images and measurements with spectrometers. On 29.10.1998 at about
0630UTC deorbit impulses will be given for burning up over a designated area
in the Pacific East of New Zealand.

Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.