MIRNEWS.426    5 JUNE 1998

Discovery docked at MIR on 4.06.1998 at 1658UTC.

Communications during the final stage of the approach and the docking itself
went via Altair-2. The traffic started at 1628UTC with phone between MIR and
TsUP. The TV-transmissions started at 1633UTC. Discovery could be seen through
a camera on board MIR, but it was difficult to determine the progress of the
approach. The image of the shuttle was partly covered by one of MIR's
solarpanels. The 2 portholes of Discovery's flightdeck could be seen. The Ku-
band antenne of Discovery was still out of order, so CNN could only give us the
images which came from MIR.

The VHF window was open between 1649 and 1657UTC. The transmitters were
switched on, but not in use for phone.

During the pass in the next orbit (70211, 1823-1835UTC) the airseal checks had
been done. Communications went via 143.625 as well as 130.165 mc. Musabayev was
sitting near the hatch to Discovery and he and Budarin tried to establish a TV-
link with TsUP. Altair-2 was not active and from the commands (for instance
Anna-86) could be derived that the TV-link went via a UHF-channel and a
tracking station in Russia. It lasted a long time before the TV-link was ready
and TsUP received images. At 1828UTC the hatches were open and Musabayev and
Precourt could meet each other. Andy Thomas tried to meet his Discovery
colleagues as soon as possible and Musabayev warned him to be careful. Just
before LOS a lot of enthousiasm and laughter could be heard.

During the pass in orb. 70212/213, 1959-2010UTC, there was only Telemetry and
Packet. Phone and images could be monitored via Altair-2 during the next pass
(70214, 2113UTC). Both crews were having diner together. Musabayev had said
that he and his crew did not eat for 15 hours. The Discovery crew did not have
a meal for 12 hours.

Radio-amateur traffic:

R0MIR transmitted the following CQ Packet Radio message:

QUOTE

I AM ABOUT TO END MY TIME ON MIR AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE HAM OPERATORS
AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAVE SENT MESSAGES. I HOPE IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE
VOLUME OF TRAFFIC HAS MADE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES IMPOSSIBLE BUT WE REALLY ENJOY
YOUR MAIL. VOICE HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT PARTICULARLY OVER THE US AND EUROPE.
TOO MANY TALKING AT ONCE. IN THE SHORT TIME I HAVE LEFT I WILL TRY TO DO VOICE,
BUT ASK THAT REPEAT CALLERS STAY OFF THE AIR SO THAT I CAN GIVE NEW CALLERS A
CHANCE FOR A CONTACT.

BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU. ANDY THOMAS

UNQUOTE

Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.