MIRNEWS.116    19 DECEMBER 1991

RADIOTRAFFIC IN GENERAL:

MIR is mainly passing during the nighthours and so not too much information can
be derived from 143.625 mc traffic. From this scarce radiotraffic and the
support I get from via via from Luch we know that the flight these days has no
highlights, but is a matter of routine. Almost daily the crew has to cope
problems with the water regeneration system Elektron and some Girodynes
(necessary for attitude control). TsUP stated that all is going well and
according to plan: observations and making pictures of territories in Asia and
near the Pacific to determine pollution and to detect natural earth resources.
Now and then they work with the Zona-3 oven to produce highgrade crystalmaterial
for electronic applications. Regularly the crew undergoes medical checkups and
they already had to do exercises with the Chibis. Krikalyov wondered why they
had to do this now, normally the have to do such exercises shortly before return
to earth. On 17 Dec. 1991, orb. 33370, 0628UTC, they used the downlink
radiotelephony frequ. 143.625mc to transmit Packetradio signals.
For radio-amateurism they used the 145.550 as well as the 145.500 mc.

RADIOTRAFFIC VIA LUCH:

Last week they transmitted TV-images of their work on the
spherical tank of the Elektron system. They also relayed imaged of a damaged
solarpanel to earth. Gradually it is becoming possible to receive MIR's
radiotelephony via Luch. The traffic does not differ from that on the VHF
downlink, but it gives more information and the communications sessions last
longer. During such a session American radio amateurs could be heard via a
loudspeaker in the background. Krikalyov asked for particulars about Manarov. He
got a lot of questions from radio-amateurs all over the world about the
condition of Musa Manarov, who has been in hospital due to problems with his
joints.
For a long time TsUP failed to inform the MIR crew about the whereabouts of
Manarov. (I heard that Manarov left hospital already.)

PLESETSK:

In the program of Radio Moscow 'Science and Engineering" editor Boris
Beletskiy answered questions about the launchsite Plesetsk. For many years the
existence of this site has been kept secret. Beletskiy emphasized that keeping
this secret was stupid, nonsense and even riduculous. He referred to Geoff Perry
of the Kettering Grammarschool, who, with his students determined the position
of the lauchsite near Plesets by using the orbital elements of the first
satellite launched from Plesetsk: the Cosmos-112 on 17 March 1966. Geof Perry
must be pleased that Radio Moscow ultimately mentioned is name and stuck feather
in his cap for that achievement in 1966. Im am pleased for him that this
'postponed honor' nevertheless reached him from the -for a few days- still
existing Soviet Union.

Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.