MIRNEWS.291 23 FEBRUARY 1996 Soyuz-TM23 linked up with the MIR-complex: The S-TM23 approached and docked automatically with the system Kurs. S-TM23 docked at the aft axial dockingport (+X, Kvant-1) on 23.02.1996 at 14 hrs 20 mins 36 secs UTC. During the last part of the approachoperation Altair (Kosmos-2054) was in use for communications. After images of the MIR-station seen by a camera on board of S-TM23 a datascreen and the dockingport could be seen. Until a few minutes before the docking Onuf rienko could be hear on 121.750 mc reporting distances, appro achspeeds, deviations around the X-, Y- and Z-axes until LOS for our position at 1417UTC. During the following pass for our position (orb. 57216, 1546- 1554UTC) the crews had checked the airseal and the newcomers prepared the opening of the hatches to enter the complex via the Kvant-1. The old crew prepared a direct TV-link to trans mit images of the entrance (at abt. 1600 UTC) of Onufrienko and Usachov. So 5 men are now on board of the spacestation. In the period until the return to earth of Gidzenko, Avdeyev and Reiter with the S-TM22 on 29.02.96 they will transfer their duty to the new crew, they will have to do many exercises with the Chibis suit to be prepared for their return to gravity conditions and they will have to check the systems of their ship, which has to be reliable for 100% . The last days they already were working on some temperature- and humidity problems in the BO (lifecompartment) of that ship. During checks of the S-TM22 systems we can expect radiotraffic on 121.750 mc. Communications: Radiotraffic from MIR with TsUP near Moscow nowadays begins before MIR is in range of the groundstation Shcholkovo near Moscow. This has been made possible by the use of a groundstation near Munchen (Germany) with the callsign Scope. Often Reiter has been speaking directly with that station. Progress-M30: This freighter decayed over a designated area in the Pacific East of New-Zealand on 22.02.1996 at 1458UTC. The Pr-M30 had not been equipped with a VBK (Ballistic Return Capsule). Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.