MIRNEWS.451    30 JANUARY 1999

Orbit corrections:

For the period between 27.01 and 2.02.99 three orbitcorrections were
planned. The 1st one took place on 27.01.99 at 1418UTC and was relatively
small. This correction was to check the performance of a number of
systems. The impulse given by the engines of the freighter Progress-M40
lasted 97 seconds and increased the velocity with 0.35 Meters/second.
The orbit was raised approx. 600 Meters. The greater correction,
meanwhile executed, was scheduled for 29.01.1999 at 1337UTC and had to
increase the velocity with 1.44 Meters/second. (No exact details as
yet) The 3rd and last correction of this sequence is planned for
2.02.1999 and has to add 0.85 Meters/second. Due to the planned last
correction it is not yet possible to give exact predictions of MIR's (and
Progress-40's) passes during the Znamya 2.5 reflector experiment.

Znamya 2.5:

On 3.02.1999 at about 2200UTC (for Moscow time already 4.02)
Pr-M40 will separate from MIR and remain in a distance of a couple of
100 Meters. The MIR crew will control the Pr-M40 with the TORU systeem
and push the packages with the Znamya 2.5 sail in open space. By
spinning the freighter around her X-axis the centrifugal forces will
unfold and open the packages. These forces will also have to maintain
the reflector sail unfolded in right angles towards sun and earth. MIR
and Progress-M40 and possibly the light beam can be seen in Western
Europa somewhere between 1700 and 2000UTC on 4.02.1999. Due to MIR's
orbit correction on 2.02.1999 it is not yet possible to calculate exact
predictions the passes in which MIR/Progress-M40 are still in sunlight
and we in the earth's shadow. As soon as I have the Keplerelements
after the correction I will issue a small MIR-report with times and other
details (azimuth and elevation) for my position. The reflector beam will
cause a spot of approx. 6 KM in diameter, but this spot will move very
fast: approx. 8 KM/second.

Progress-M40:

After the 24 hours which will be used for this experiment
the freighter will be put on a destruction course into the atmosphere and
burn up over a designated area in the Pacific Ocean East of New-
Zealand.

MIR-routine: 

Daily between 0500-2000UTC the kosmonauts executed the prescribed
programmes. This was not very exciting, but also not boring. They payed
attention to a number of well known experiments such as: the French
Fiziolab (medical), Ionozond (sensing the ionosphere in the benefit of
the ionospheric stations in Narafominsk and Rostov), the Greenhouse,
Portapress (bloodcirculation), Relaksatsiya (the study of the influence
on molecules of products of combustion for which now and then small
impulses of the engines were needed), Silay (the study of small particles
from outer space resulting in minor flashes in the eyes of the
cosmonauts), etc. Apart from these and ther experiments they had to do
maintenance work, for instance the replacement of a ventilator of the Gas
Analyser, mending the system for the transfer of urine, the installation
and dismounting of experimental equipment and the separation of water in
one of the Elektron oxygen generators. Regularly the crew reported the
pressure in MIR's atmosphere: always approx. 705 MM mercury. They also
now and then checked the pressure in the Spektr module. Another regular
reported measurement was the radiation level on board. This was always
done by Avdeyev who used the Doza system. The values (doses) were given
in ug-s and the velocities in mg-s per hour.

Communications: 

Now and then the geostationary satellite Luch-1/Gelios was in use for
instance for TV-transmissions, but also for a TV-link in which high speed
data transfer took place. On 25.01.99 TsUP told the crew that the DLR
was very pleased with the data of the Titus experiments transmitted by
MIR and directly received by DLR. The MIR crew promised to transmit
more. (Unclear whether the Germans received these signals via the 166,
165, 636 or 638 mc/s telemetry channels or via the Luch-1/Gelios.
Theoretically GSOC in Oberpfaffenhofen must be able to 'see' Luch-1)
Avdeyev often used the amateur radio frequency 145.985 mc/s for several
modes: Packet Radio, Phone and SSTV images. Now and then Avdeyev, using
call sign R0MIR, transmitted for phone on a somewhat lower frequency
around 145.970 mc/s. He made his calls in Russian as well in English.

Preparations Znamya 2.5:

A lot activities in this field during the last
days. For instance just before drafting this report TsUP spoke with the
crew about the observations during the undocking and the deployment of
the Znamya 2.5 sail. Padalka will control the TORU from the base block
and Avdeyev will execute observations and make images with through a
porthole (nr. 5 in Module-D or the porthole in the PSO).

C.M van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.