MIRNEWS.342 20 JANUARY 1997 Atlantis/MIR: During the period in which Atlantis and MIR were linked together the American TDRS-facilities were in use for the bulk of radiocommunications, thus anticipating the communication procedures of the future International Space Station Alpha. The Russians used their facilities only to discuss matters regarding the MIR-complex itself. With a few exceptions the Atlantis also took care for the movements (attitude) control of the huge space combination. Atlantis separated from the MIR: Atlantis undocked from the MIR on 20.01.1997 at 02.15.44UTC. At 0357UTC the engines of the Atlantis gave the separation burn for the ride home. After the undocking Atlantis remained in the free drift until the distance permitted firing of steering rockets. During the 2 flights of Atlantis around the MIR-complex no images have been transmitted from MIR. These had been recorded and transmitted to Earth later that day via Altair-1. Among them good images, for instance Atlantis flying away from under a MIR solarpanel and several views of Atlantis moving away with a sight of the Earth in the background. Soyuz-TM25: The next important operation will be the launch of Soyuz-TM25 from Baykonur on 10.02.1997 at 1409UTC. S-TM25 will bring the 23d Main Expedition (Tsibliyev and Lazutkin) and the German astronaut Ewald to the MIR (Stand-in crew: Musabayev, Budarin and Schlegel). Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.