MIRNEWS.320    3 AUGUST 1996

Progress-M32: Docking at MIR:

Progress-M32 docked at the MIR-station (-X axis, 
forward port transition section) on 2.08.1996 at 22.03.44
UTC. So 6 minutes later than planned. Approach and
docking were executed in the automatic mode by the use of
the system Kurs.

Radiotraffic:

As always during such operations the
radiotraffic was very interesting. During the pass in
orb. 59727, 2149-2156UTC, the approach was still going
on. The crew just accomplished a test of the TORU-system
(for eventual manual guidance by the MIR-crew). They did
not use this system. At 215520UTC the distance between
Pr-M32 and MIR was 180 M. The cosmonauts monitored the
images made from Pr-M32 of the station on their displays.
They also observed the approaching Pr-M32 via illuminators.
The traffic revealed that, though somewhat slower
than planned, the operation was proceeding well.
During the next pass in orb. 59728, 2327-2333UTC,
radiotraffic revealed that Pr-M32 had docked at MIR.
The preparations for the opening of the hatches were
going on, i.e. airseal checks, the egalisation of the
pressures in Pr-M32 and MIR, deployment of an airhose,
and so on.
During the pass in orb. 59729, on 3.08.1996 from 0057-
0107UTC, the hatches were open and de cosmonauts already
had entered the freighter to remove things which had to
be transferred to the complex as soon as possible. After
checks of the systems of Pr-M32 and the work to be sure
that Pr-M32 was fixed at the station tight and safely the
crew could go asleep. And so did, tired but satisfied,
your 'observer'.

The Progress-M32, will -relatively- remain a part of the
MIR-complex for a short period: If the operations with
Soyuz-TM24 (reliefcrew) will proceed according to plan
(of this moment) Pr-M32 has to depart on 20.08.1996 to
free the forward docking port for the Soyuz-TM24, which
has to be launched on 19.08.1996.

Progress-M31:

This old freighter separated from MIR on 1.08.1996
at 16.44.54UTC. and burnt up in the atmosphere.
(Further details in a next MIR-report.)

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