MIRNEWS.448 21 DECEMBER 1998 Orbit correction: The natural drag caused a considerable decrease of MIR's altitude. On 16.12.1998 the apogee was 355.6 KM, the perigee 345.3 KM. Even if the Russians stick to their obligations in the ISS field and dump the MIR complex in July 1999, some orbit corrections will be necessary to reduce the decay rate. There have been plans to increase the altitude of the orbit on 22.12.1998 and to do the same in March 1999. On 21.12.1998 I could not yet get confirmation that the correction is still scheduled for 22.12. So it might be possible and if this will happen, the predictions based on Kepler elements older than 22.12 will become more and more inaccurate. Sun orbit: These days the MIR-space station is flying on a sun orbit. So MIR remains in sunlight continuously and does not fly in eclipses at all. This means an extra burden for the thermoregulation of the complex. It is very warm on board, but the cosmonauts have not complained about this inconvenience thusfar. Elektron (oxygen generator): For some weeks during communication sessions the crew reported on the internal pressure of one of the Elektrons. The values they reported were between 1.1 an 1.3. This value should remain not much higher than 1.1. After replacement of a unit or part of that Elektron, they no longer reported these values. MIR-routine: The crew executed a lot of experiments and most of their working hours were used for these activities. Less time was spent on maintenance and repair work of the life systems, for instance they refuelled the hydrolic thermoregulation system of the Kvant-2 module. They also had to repair electronic parts of experimental equipment (power units, interfaces, cables a.s.o.). Among the executed experiments were the study of plant growth in the greenhouse Svet, the determination of optical characteristics of the earth's atmosphere with the photometer EFO-2, and with the magnetic spectrometer Mariya the study of high energetic particles in space and in the radiation belts of the earth. Regularly the furnaces Krater, Gallar and Optizon passed in review. And the cosmonauts spoke about Ionozond, Dakon, Doze, Sigma and Alisa. The cosmonauts also had to undergo medical checks while training on the home trainer (velo-ergometer) and the treadmill. A few times the electro cardio cassette sounds were transmitted via the VHF phone channel. Mood on board: Almost no complaining or dissatisfaction could be derived from radiotraffic, but there also was neither exuberance nor cheerfulness. With TsUP, Padalka settles his matters in an efficient, clear and in a business-like way. Rarely Avdeyev gets the opportunity to use his nice Russian to bring up something, but even then Padalka quickly reconqueres the microphone. During passes within my range, I did not hear reactions from the cosmonauts on the beginning of the ISS-assembly. Without comments they listened to the news about the ISS, relayed to them by TsUP. Znamya 2.5: The experiment with this solar reflector after the undocking of Progress-M40 will, if nothing changes, take place a few days before the launch of the Soyuz-TM29 with the 27th Main Expedition to MIR on 22.02.1999. Spacewalks (EVA-s): No more EVA's are planned for the present (26th M.E.) crew. Communications: Now and then the Luch-1/Gelios satellite over 77 degrees East is in use for MIR-TsUP communications. And just like during the use of the old Altairs, this does not always go smoothly. For instance on 20.12.1998 family and friends gathered at TsUP for an Television session with MIR, but after 20 or 30 seconds the communications stopped. And to conclude: For you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.