MIRNEWS.409    23 FEBRUARY 1998

Progress-M37 redocked at MIR:

The docking took place on 23.02.1998 at 09.42.27UTC (in my Progress-M37 message
I wrote 09.43.27, sorry, slip of the finger!). Approach and docking were
executed in the automatic mode with the system Kurs. During the final phase of
the operation Musabayev was ready to take over the control manually with the
system TORU. The window for traffic via Altair-2 was in use from 0857UTC until
the docking. Musabayev reported about what they did in relation to the approach
operation. At 0858UTC Musabayev reported that he could see the lights of the
Pr-M37. Later on he reported what he could see via monitors of the Kurs and
TORU systems. At 0859UTC M. started a test of TORU. The system worked well and
reacted faultlessly on all commands. When he switched off TORU at 0905UTC he
reported that the test results were positive. Hereafter he continued to follow
the movements of Pr-M37 and he reported the distances and approach speeds. At
0910UTC audio communications via Altair-2 stopped and from that moment Altair-2
transmitted images of the MIR-complex seen via a camera in the Progress. At
that moment the distance was 220 meters and the approach speed 0.8 M/sec. At
0930UTC, MIR still could be seen via Altair-2, communications continued via
VHF. Also the transmitters of Pr-M37 on 922.755 and in the 166 and 165 mc bands
could be heard. TCA for my position was 09.30.40UTC. During this VHF-window the
crew got permission for the docking and at LOS at 0937UTC the distance between
MIR and Pr-M37 was 162 meters with an approach speed of 0.94 M/sec. Fortunately
it was reported that the docking had been successful.
The docking took place on 23.02.1998 at 09.42.27UTC (in my Progress-M37 message
I wrote 09.43.27, sorry, slip of the finger!). Approach and docking were
executed in the automatic mode with the system Kurs. During the final phase of
the operation Musabayev was ready to take over the control manually with the
system TORU. The window for traffic via Altair-2 was in use from 0857UTC until
the docking. Musabayev reported about what they did in relation to the approach
operation. At 0858UTC Musabayev reported that he could see the lights of the
Pr-M37. Later on he reported what he could see via monitors of the Kurs and
TORU systems. At 0859UTC M. started a test of TORU. The system worked well and
reacted faultlessly on all commands. When he switched off TORU at 0905UTC he
reported that the test results were positive. Hereafter he continued to follow
the movements of Pr-M37 and he reported the distances and approach speeds. At
0910UTC audio communications via Altair-2 stopped and from that moment Altair-2
transmitted images of the MIR-complex seen via a camera in the Progress. At
that moment the distance was 220 meters and the approach speed 0.8 M/sec. At
0930UTC, MIR still could be seen via Altair-2, communications continued via
VHF. Also the transmitters of Pr-M37 on 922.755 and in the 166 and 165 mc bands
could be heard. TCA for my position was 09.30.40UTC. During this VHF-window the
crew got permission for the docking and at LOS at 0937UTC the distance between
MIR and Pr-M37 was 162 meters with an approach speed of 0.94 M/sec. Fortunately
it was reported that the docking had been successful.
During the next window of Altair-2 the transponders were switched on at 1023UTC
and Musabayev tried to get in touch with TsUP. He repeatedly called TsUP, but
did not get any reaction. Just before Altair-2 switched off there was a short
link at 1047UTC.

Smell:

After the opening of the hatch of Pr-M37 some orbits later a strong terrible
smell came out the freighter. Possibly a bag or container with garbage had gone
open. The crew decided to set the hatch to the Progress ajar.

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