MIRNEWS.462 19 JULY 1999 Progress-M42 docked at MIR: The docking at the aft port (Kvant-1 +X-axis) took place on 18.07.1999 at 17.53.23UTC. The approach and docking were executed in the automatic regime by the system Kurs. The final phase of the operation was going on during the first pass for my position in MIR's orbit 76637, 1746-1751UTC. Afanasyev reported distances, approach speeds and other crucial data. At 17.46.58 distance 150 Meters, approach speed 0.1 M/sec. At 17.47.15: 150 M, 0.4 M/sec., deviation somewhat to the left, 1 degree and along Y-axis 2 degrees. At 17.47.28 moving to the centre, approx. 0.5 degree to the left, down along Y-axis 0.5 degree. Afansyev was still reporting these data during LOS. Last reported distance was 48 Meters, appr. speed 0.27 M/sec. Opening hatches to the Pr-M42: This took place at 1835UTC, so very soon after the docking. Afanasyev reported later on that the Pr-M42 was clean, quite a relief for there had been some concerns about this due to the fact that the launch had been put back so often. Already on 19.07.1999 the crew started the transfer of cargo from the Pr-M42 into the station. The crew also worked on the integration of the engines for docking and orientation of the freighter into the system for the control of the movements of the complex in the Base Block and on the test of this system. Spacewalks (EVA-s) crew 27th Main Expedition: The delayed arrival of the Pr-M42 did not result in changes of the schedule for the still planned 2 EVA-s. These will be made on 23 and 27.07.1999. On 23.07 the exit hatch will be opened at 1115UTC and closed at 1654UTC. No decision has been made for the times of the EVA on 27.07. End of the 27th Main Expedition: The departure of the crew of this expedition has been put back from 23rd until 28.08.1999. This on a request of CNES. As of yet the reasons for this request are not fully clear. Better light conditions on 28.08 than on 23.08.1999 were mentioned, but possibly there are still other reasons. Communications during 2nd day (17.07) of the flight of Pr-M42: During the 18th orbit telemetry and beacon signals in the 166, 165 and 922.755 mc bands could be monitored between 19.27.40UTC and 19.32.00UTC. During the 19th orbit the signals were very strong between 2058 and 2105 UTC. With the dopplereffect (dip on 922.755 mc) TCA (time closest approach) could be determined at 21.01.50UTC. There were in the Benelux and England clouds permitted this observers reported good visual observations of Pr-M42 around 2100UTC. Last Progress freighter during manned status MIR-spacestation: More or less the arrival of this last freighter is a historical event. The eventual Progress which has to give the latest impuls to put the complex on a destruction course (in the beginning of 2000) has to dock during the autonomous flight of the complex. From the beginning of the flight of MIR I followed and monitored almost all flight of freighters, in the beginning the Progresses, later on the Progresses-M. It is not yet clear how the communications during flights of Russian transport and cargoships to the International Space Station will be organized. My possibilities depend on those communications, so it might be that for me Progress-M42 has been the very last. But nevertheless I was able to monitor this flight very well and this made it possible to draft an extensive report. C.M. van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.