MIRNEWS.361    16 JUNE 1997

Progress-M35:

If all goes according to plan this freighter will be launched on
27.06.1997 at 0630UTC. If launch and flight will be successful Pr-M35
will dock at MIR's aft docking port (X-axis) on 29.06.1997 at abt
0748UTC.

Progress-M34:

There are no plans for an autonomous flight with Pr-M34.If during the
first day of the flight of Pr-M35 all goes well Pr-M34 will separate from
MIR on 28.06.1997 and brought on a destruction course for decay over a
designated area in the Pacific East of New Zealand.

Radio-amateurtraffic:

As requested by radio-amateurs in the USA the 'downlink frequency' of the
VHF station in MIR's base block has been changed from 145.800 to 145.985
mc. This change took place on 15.06.97. Almost during every pass within
our range traffic, mainly Packet Radio, can be monitored. During the last
days Foale could be heard in Phone. Foale is a skilled radio-amateur with
a very good memory. During a QSO with the Belgian amateur ON6GP he
remarked that during mission STS-45 ON6GP spoke with Foale's crewmate
the Belgian astronaut Frimaut.

Communications:

Tsibliyev and Lazutkin during every pass discuss their reparation
activities. They meet a lot of problems with cables and contacts which
they cannot find or do not fit. Undoubtedly the present mission, teased
by a lot of problems and set-backs, is leaving its traces on the
psychological stamina of Tsibliyev and Lazutkin. Especially for Tsibliyev
it is not always easy to maintain his normal flexibility. In a long
conversation with his father Foale told that he just flew over England.
The British isles were fully overcast and the cloudlayer had the same
shape as the country itself. He also told that Tsibliyev and Lazutkin
badly hope that the relief crew will be launched at abt. 8.08.97. The
Russians will be relieved by Solovyov and Vinogradov. After the departure
of the present crew Foale will remain on board MIR. So he will be a
member of MIR's Main Expedition nr. 24 (Solovyov and Vinogradov) for a
period of appr. 7 weeks.

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