MIRNEWS.449    27 DECEMBER 1998

Orbit correction:

On 24.12.1998 at 0409UTC the engines of the
freighter Progress-M40 raised MIR's orbit. With the 2-line elements
determined after the orbit correction it was possible to calculate
accurate passes of the complex again.

On 25.12.1998 the cosmonauts asked for the new Apogee and Perigee
of MIR. TsUP said that these values were 372 and 361 KM.

Possibly the last 2-lines will only be valid for a short period for there
might follow a 2nd correction on 26 or 28.12.1998. Radio traffic and
radio observations did not cofirm that there was a correction on 26.12
so let us wait and hear if this will take place on 28.12.1998.

A high ranking official in Korolyov assured me that the reboost of the
MIR-complex has nothing to do with an eventual prolongation of the
exploitation after June 1999, but was executed for ballistic reasons.
The rumours about plans to extend MIR's operational life are unfounded
and the plan to bring MIR back in the earth's atmosphere after June 1999
is still fully in force.

Progress-M40:

The undocking of this freighter from MIR is scheduled for 4.02.1999.
After some autonomous orbits Progress-M40 will jettison and
deploy a solar reflector for the execution of the Znamya 2.5 experiment.

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