MIRNEWS.292    29 FEBRUARY 1996

Soyuz-TM22 returned safely:

The descent-module of the S-TM22 with the relieved MIR ME 20
crew (Gidzenko, Avdeyev and Euromir95 astronaut Reiter) safely
landed at 105 KM North East of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan on
29.02.96 at 10hrs 42mins 8secs UTC. (Only 2KM from the planned
aiming point). During the final part of the returnoperation S-
TM22 communicated with earth via MIR and Altair (Cosmos-2054).
In this window (0936-1030UTC) could be heard that the engines
of the ship gave the de-orbitburn (at abt. 0945UTC) and that
the servicemodule and the BO (Lifecompartment) separated. Just
before reentry (at abt. 1016UTC) S-TM22 switched over to
direct communication channels and only MIR could be heard via
Altair until 1029UTC. Radiotraffic, as always during this
mission mainly done by Gidzenko, revealed that all went smoothly.
Due to the fact that the landing took place in a short
distance of the aiming point all could be done quickly: evacuation
and medical checks in a tent. Estimated time of arrival
of the crew in Moscow (airbase Chkalova) 29.02.1996 at 1630UT.
First reports suggest that the condition of the cosmonauts and
astronaut is perfect.

The reliefweek: As always a week with a lot of activities:

i.e. the transfer of the station to the reliefcrew (MIR ME
21), exercises with the Chibis suit to have the bloodcirculation
more or less accustomed to gravity conditions, checking
the systems of the S-TM22 for the returnflight and the loading
of cargo in the descentmodule. This time this was more
difficult due to the fact that now 3 men will return, so the
3d seat could not be used for extra cargo. 2 days before the
return flight the 2 boardengineers had to cope with a waterleakage
in the Base Block. Acting upon advice from specialist on
earth they resolved this problem. Until the last moment of the
mission Gidzenko remained the 'captain'. In my opinion he is a
supercosmonaut. I had the pleasure to meet him 4 years ago in
Moscow, but did not realise that I would so much admire this
man during his first flight.

Radiocommunications:

A new crew means new habbits and so also have to
get accustomed to new routines. Onufrienko and
Usachov use the so called 'zip-zap' method during communication:
they switch of the microphone while listening so that it
is impossible to hear earth in the background. Gidenko and his
crew always left the mike open. Onufrienko, who is making his
first spaceflight showed no adaptation problems and presents
himself as a very skilled cosmonaut.

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