MIRNEWS.231    4 OCTOBER 1994

Soyuz-TM20 launched:

The S-TM20 with on board the Euromir94 astronaut Merbold and the
cosmonauts Viktorenko and Kondakova blasted off from Baykonur
exactly on schedule on 3.10.94 at 2242UTC (Moscow time 4.10.94
at 0142UTC). During the passes in our range during the orbits 2,
3, 4 and 5 at resp. 0143, 0312, 0445 and 0625UTC the S-TM20
could be monitored on the known frequen cies. At 0320UTC
Viktorenko, prompted by Kondakova, reported the successful first
2 orbitcorrections and the additional data. It was obvious that
all on board was going well. Judging by the cheerful voice of
Kondakova she must be in a good condition. Kondakova wants to
stay in orbit for approx. 6 months.

Estimated time of docking to MIR:

Result of calculations estimate the dockingtime of S-TM20 to MIR
on 6.10.94 at 0013UTC, ESA (still) sticks to 0030UTC. S-TM20 has
to dock to the forward (P.Kh.O.) axial docking port of the MIR
complex.

Progress-M24:

This freighter still occupies that dockingport and
has to get away before the arrival of S-TM20. It might be
possible that after the separation the Russians will check the
system Kurs of Pr-M24 during some dummy approaches as to reveal
the causes of malfunctions during recent unsuccessful docking
attempts. Pr-M24 does not carry a VBK (ballistic return
capsule) and will burn up in the atmosphere over an area in the
Pacific.

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