MIRNEWS.112 25 OCTOBER 1991 2D ATTEMPT TO DOCK PROGRESS-M10 TO MIR SUCCESSFUL: This 2d attempt took place in the early morning hours of 21 Oct. 1991. They planned to have Pr-M10 docked to MIR at 0226UTC, but TsUP was unsure about the control data reaching them from Pr-M10 and there was no time to check these data thoroughfully before 0226UTC. So again we had to undergo a full nightshift with a lot of interesting radiotraffic. During the 2d pass over here (orb. 32479,0150UTC) Pr-M10 was hovering at a distance of abt. 400 M from MIR. Volkov observed the Pr-M10 from a window in Module-D and Krikalyov checked the behaviour of Pr-M10 on a screen and via another window in the Basis Block. During the 3d. pass (orb. 32480, 0325UTC) things were beginning to move. Volkov and Krikalyov saw the lights and motorburns of Pr-M10, but also enjoyed the view of the lights of London and Paris. At a distance of 360 M the approach speed increased from 0 to 1.5 M/sec and without problems Pr-M10 docked to MIR's forward port at 0341UTC. One pass afterwards, (orb. 32481, 0506UTC), mutual congratulations. Krikalyov admitted that those 2 strenuous nights caused a lot of transpiration. Later on good reports about Pr-M10 all clean and fresh and no problems with the air-seal. COMMISSION FOR INQUIRY APPROACH FAILURE ON 19 OCT. 1991: As always if something went wrong and there might have been a human failure a commission has been appointed to investigate the operation of 19 Oct. 1991. The problems with the approaches of Progress-M10 took place in the period in which a German delegation visited Moscow and TsUP in connection with flight of a German cosmonaut in March 1992. REASON LONG DURATION FLIGHT SOYUZ-TM13 DURING REDOCKING ON 15 OCT. 1991: Normally such operations last no longer than 20 minutes. After undocking the MIR-complex makes a turn of 180 degrees and the Soyuzy simply wait to meet the other docking port. Now they remained autonomous for 1 hr. and 44 minutes, so during a full orbit. This has been done deliberately to have a thorough check of the Kurs-1 and Kurs-2 approach systems. These systems have been tested from different distances and directions and also test-approaches have been made. Of course the cosmonauts used the opportunity to observe, film and photograph the complex, but this was not the primary aim of the long flight. FLEET TRACKING SHIPS RUSSIAN SPACEFLIGHT: All authorities involved in Russian spaceflight got orders to replace the tracking fleet by cheaper means of communication as soon as possible. So they have make haste in improving the TDRS system (SR-s of the Luch system) for the fleet of tracking ships, also needing foreign currency, is too expensive. TERRESTRIAL TRACKINGSTATIONS TBLISI AND YEVPATORIYA: It has been officially acknowledged that the tracking station Tblisi (in Georgia) has been liquidated. The station Yevpatoriya (in Ukrainians' Crimea) remains operational and under control of TsUP. ACTIVITIES COSMONAUTS: 1. The have been working on modifications or the renewal of the station's Telemetry system. (Possibly using new equipment delivered by Progress-M10 and/or equipment left on board after the Austromir and Aremir activities.) 2. Astrophysical- and geophysical observations and studies of materials which have been exposed to open space for a long time. Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.