MIRNEWS.157    18 JANUARY 1993

MIR:

The orbit of the complex will not be corrected during the next weeks.

SOYUZ-TM16:

Launch for a flight to MIR on 24.01.93 at 0558UTC. Expected
docking on 26.01.93 at abt. 0732UTC. If all will go according to schedule
S-TM16 will be in the final phase of the dockingoperation during the pass
in orbit nr. 39700, 0722-0729UTC. S-TM16, flown by Manakov, has to dock to
the androgynous docking port of Module-T (Kristall). The docking will be
executed in the manual mode. If the approach system Kurs will be switched on
this is only for test. After the docking of S-TM16 to Kristall the complex
will be asymmetric. The new crew will have to do all to make the VDU
(movements control motor in the Soforagirder) operational.

SOYUZ-TM15:

The present crew, Solovyov and Avdeyev, will use this ship to
return to earth on 1.02.93. Estimated landing time: 0330UTC.

PROGRESS-M15:

This cargoship will undock from the complex on 5.02.93 and
remain in orbit until at least 10.02.93. Decay that day or a little bit later.

SUNLIGHT-REFLECTION EXPERIMENT:

Pr-M15 will remain in orbit longer to make
this experiment possible. After the undocking Pr-M15 will deploy a screen of
abt. 24 square meters. This screen has to reflect sunlight to earth. If this
experiment will be successful the Russians will continue their work on larger
screens which have to be put in higher orbits for the artificial illumination
of territories suffering from disasters. The oncoming experiment will last
from 5 to 10.02.93 in which we can try to see the 'searchlight' before and
during dawn. The Russians have been asked to try to aim the beam on Vienna,
but certainly will try to do that also over other locations.

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