MIRNEWS.326    3 SEPTEMBER 1996

Progress-M32 redocked at the MIR space station.

Today Pr-M32 concluded her autonomous flight. This
flight began on 18.08.1996 , so 1 day berfore the docking
of Soyuz-TM24. Approach and docking took place 1 orbit
later than originally planned and was executed in the
automatic mode with the system Kurs.
The docking at the aft docking port (Kvant, +X-axis) was
accomplished on 3.09 at 09.35.21UTC. For those
monitoring operations like this the delay of this
operation until orbit 60212 from 0927-0932UTC was a
piece of good luck because of the fact that they could
monitor the final phase of the operation.
Commander Korzun observed the approach via the displays
of the systems LIV and TORU and reported distances,
approach speeds and manoeuvres around the X-axis. When
both objects disappeared behind the horizon the distance
was 95 meters and the appr. speed 0.8 M/sec.
During the pass in orb. 60213 from 1102-1108UTC it was
obvious that Pr-M32 was a part of the MIR-complex again. 
Meanwhile Korzun had corrected the attitude of the
complex. He got orders not to carry out the airseal
checks and the opening of the hatch today.

(So in a relative short periode the Russians
successfully accomplished crucial operations. As far as 
Russian spaceflight is concerned Aleksandr Lebedj has
nothing to worry about!!)

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