MIRNEWS.456    22 FEBRUARY 1999

Soyuz-TM29 linked up with MIR:

On 22.02.1999 at 05.36.16UTC S-TM29 docked with MIR. During the first
pass of both objectswithin my range radio-communications from MIR as well
as from S-TM29 was related to the approach being in progress. Afanasyev
reported a distance towards MIR of 36 meters. Approach and docking were
executed in the automatic mode with the system Kurs. S-TM29 docked at
the forward port (P.Kh.O.-transitionsection, -X axis).

During the next pass in orb. 74333, 0658-0706UTC, the hatches between the
ship and the station already had been opened and preparations for a TV-
report of the meeting of both crews were in progress. From the given
commands (Anna-73 and 86) could be derived that the TV-transmissions
would take place via the UHF channels. Haignere could be heard giving
some impressions about this arrival in comparison with that during his
first flight. The opening of the hatches had taken place outside the
communications zones and so it was not possible to report the exact time,
but obviously this was not long before this pass. The next communication
session took place in orb. 74334, 0830-0841UTC. The crew reported that
they had fastened the clamps of the S-TM29. This activity is necessary
to be sure that S-TM29 does not slip away slily. Other subjects during
this session were the combined power supply of MIR and S-TM29 and the
oxygen production with the Elektron in Kvant-1. Radiotraffic Soyuz-TM29
on the 2nd flightday (21.02): During orb. 18 a short communication
session between 0708 and approx. 0711UTC. Everything went flawlessly.
Afanasyev reported that they had adjusted the Globus (the instrument with
a globe to enable the crew to see the ground track of their ship on
earth). This procedure has been in vogue since the first Vostok flights
in the early sixties. Neither Afanasyev nor TsUP had nothing more to
report and they switched off the radio equipment.

During the pass in orb. 19, 0840-0845UTC, the ship could be monitored on
all frequencies. With the use of the beacon transmissions on 922.755 mc
I could see that the TCA (Time Closest Approach) was 08.42.120UTC.
Afanasyev reported that they were flying over Europa and that they had
connected the purification cartridge at 0730UTC. Then Bella got the
microphone for a short conversation with a compatriot, (possibly his
wife) at TsUP. He told that all went well, that all systems worked
normally, but that he suffered from a headache. (Whether some noise on
the frequency bothered me or that he must do something to enhance his
Slovak language, I do not know, but it was impossible to determine
whether he had a 'severe' or a 'light' headache.) During the still
available windows of S-TM29: 'ani - vidu, ani - slechu', or: not a word
has been heard!

MIR:

A lot more material could be obtained from the radio-communications
between MIR and TsUP on 21.02.99. Padalka was literally buried under
instructions about the attititude (movements-) control and manoeuvres of
the MIR-complex in preparation for the oncoming approach and docking of
S-TM29. The MIR had to make a turn of 180 degrees in the horizontal
plane. This manoeuvre, possibly to be executed without gyrodynes, but
with steering rockets, had to start on 22.02.1999 at 03.16.48UTC.

Really a busy day, but nevertheless, the crew got the opportunity to have
some private conversations with their relatives.

Bella:

The Slovak cosmonaut, or astronaut, spacionaut or, that it is:
KOZMONAUT, Ivan Bella, will execute during his mission the Slovak
scientific program Stefanik. This consists of the following items:
Dozimetrie (radiation levels), Senso-asymmetrie (whatever that may be),
Endotest (possibly hormonstudies), Metabolism , Training and as they say:
Prepelica (Japanese quails). Experiments with these birds have been
executed on MIR some years ago; not a single bird survived. Let us hope
that Bella will have more success. He spoke with a specialist on earth
and told that he was happy to be able to start with his work. His
headache was almost over and he congratulated everybody who had been
involved in the successful docking operation.

For his conversation Bella used the UKW-1, the 143.625 mc. Padalka used
for his connection with TsUP the UKW-2, so 130.165 mc.The simultanuous
use of both frequencies will be regularly the case until August this
year.

Soyuz-TM28:

The returnflight of this ship is scheduled for the night
from 27 to 28.02.99 with on board the present mission commander, Padalka,
and the Slovak Ivan Bella.They are bound to undock from MIR on 27.02 at
2310UTC and hope to make a happy landing in Kazakhstan on 28.02.1999
at approx. 0210UTC.

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