MIRNEWS.345    12 FEBRUARY 1997

Soyuz-TM25 docked at MIR-complex:

Without significant problems S-TM25 docked at the aft (+X axis) of MIR on
12.02.97 at 15.51.13UTC. During this operation the Russians still used
the system Kurs. The automatic mode worked well from the beginning and
only in a distance of 5 M. Tsibliyev had to take over manually due to a
slight deviation along the X axis (roll). After some little corrections
he accomplished a soft 'kasaniye' (touch). During the first pass of both
objects for our position (orb. 62758) 1541-1548UTC approach traffic could
be monitored on 121.750 mc, but the full Altair-1/MIR window (1510-1618UTC)
was in use for this traffic. In fact S-TM25 used for
communications with TsUP 2 relay facilities: MIR and Altair-1. In this
traffic Tsibliyev and Lazutkin (Siriusy) as well as Korzon (Fregat) could
be heard. The moment of the soft docking could be derived from the word
'congratulations' spoken by one of the cosmonauts. During the next pass
(orb. 62759), 1720-1726UTC, the hatch had already been opened and the
pass thereafter (orb. 62760/61) the new crew was inside MIR.

Communicatons S-TM25:

3 hours after launch on 10.2.97 (orb. 2, 1712-1714UTC) the transmissions
of the ship could be monitored on the well known frequencies with
Tsibliyev on 121.750 mc with TsUP. During the next pass (1841-1848UTC) he
reported the good results of the 2 orbitcorrections. He also mentioned
some problems with a TV-installation or a screen. Apart from some
interference by the groundservices of a near by airport (also using
121.750 mc, but AM-W) the signals came in loud and clear. Also during the
second day (11.02.1997) traffic could be heard during all passes for our
position.

Communications MIR:

On 8.02.1997 DLR's GSOC in Oberpfaffenhofen (Germany) and MIR tested the
direct link via the quasi-geostationary comsat Altair-1 over 16dgs West.
Good images and audio from inside MIR demonstrated that the test was a
great success. They also checked the performance of the so called BDD
(Betriebstechnik Deutschland Direkt). This is an interface assembly for
direct data exchange between specialists on earth and Reinhold Ewald
during experiments in the framework of the MIR-97 program. A few days
later it was clear that the direct link between GSOC and MIR will be a
normal routine until 2.03.1997 (the end of MIR-97).

PS: A tragic event in my family caused delay in the mailing of this report.

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