MIRNEWS.366                                                     1 JULY 1997
Radiotraffic in the  period 26.6 - 1.7.1997:
During this period it was for me a relief when I during the first pass of the 
daily sequence  heard the voices of the c rew.  Every conversation between 
the crew and TsUP referred to the difficult situation and their 'struggle for 
life'.
26.06: Just like on 'collision day' they again had to do everything to adjust 
those solar-arrays which still were opera tional  to the best angle towards 
the sun.  The absence of the gyrodynes for the movements control and the 
absence of t he possibility to have commands executed by computer programs 
means that the crew has to adjust the solararrays manuall y. One of the 
complaints was that the solararrays on Module D moved very slowly.  
Nevertheless the angles towards the s un gradually improved leading to  an 
increase of power supply. The crew did all what was possible to determine the 
dama ge by observations and making images via several portholes, but it was 
impossible to get a full picture. For the recept ion of radiograms the RTTY 
system was in use again. The attitude control of the complex was executed by 
thruster jets, also with  those of the transportvehicle Soyuz-TM25. They did 
not do any experiments for which electrical energy was ne eded and all 
radio-amateuractivities had been suspended.  For the filtering of the air 
from CO2 now and then the Vozduk h scrubber was activated. 
27.06: This day there was word about a gyro-stabilized orientation, possibly 
with the attitude control of the S-TM25.  For the neutralization of CO2 TsUP 
wished the use of lithium hydroxide canisters. Tsibliyev asked permission to 
do this
 with Vozdukh. At first they had to do this with those canisters, but later 
on they got permission to switch on Vozdukh
 for a while.  The crew also worked on the Elektron, but this oxygen producer 
had to remain switched off to economize e nergy.  During the pass in orb. 
64863 there has been a TV-link (Anna-72 and Anna-86) and possibly they used 
for the pho ne during these communications the VHF-2 130.165 mc.  During the 
pass in orb. 64865 the crew answered  questions of a l ady on earth.  The 
crew said that only a few experiments ('sleep' and the 'orangery') can be 
executed. During this inte rview the possibility of a spacewalk (EVA) was 
mentioned. Tsibliyev spoke about an 'internal' EVA. Tsibliyev hoped that
 their spacesuits will enable them to enter the Spektr. He stated that the 
present situation is far from hopeless.  Pro blem is that 1 solararray has 
been severely damaged. The  other 3 solararrays on Spektr are still in good 
order, but it
 is a 'bloody shame' that they cannot deliver electrical power. One of those 
3 is badly needed for the powersupply.  Th e lady asked how things are 
looking inside the Spektr. Tsibliyev said, that they do not know this for 
they have not  be en inside.  In his opinion a spacestation can be compared 
with a 'test firing range' where everything is possible. They
 are very proud of their MIR. Cosmonauts are prepared to undergo normal and 
emergency situations, even those which have
 not been foreseen.  But together with the experts on earth they always will 
'twist themselves out'. 
28.06: Today again attitude corrections with the thrusters of Soyuz-TM25.  
Also a few times TV-links. The work on the E lektron has been postponed until 
next Monday, probably due to a valve that cannot be opened.  Later on they 
spoke about
 the functioning of the Elektron in Kvant. (37KE).  Today the transfer of 
radiograms with Packet Radio could be monitor ed.  
                                                   -2-
                                                   -2-
A lot conversations about the 'internal' EVA. The equipment needed for this 
EVA has to be transferred from the Sh.S.O. (airlock of Module-D) to the 
P.Kh.O. (transitionsection, which again has to function as airlock).  They 
spoke about the
 spacesuits, POV, BSS and so on. 
29.06: During passes they almost exclusevily spoke about the next EVA and  
also mentioned the spacesuits which have to be used: Orlan-M or Orlan-DMA.  
Foale is also involved in the solution of these problems.  It was also 
obvious that a p art of the available gyrodynes is functioning normally. Now 
and then they speak about the switching off of one gyrodyne
 or the use of a reserve. 
30.06: Again a lot about the EVA.    There was also work to do on the 
coolingloops VGK and K.Okh-B in Kvant (37KE). 
1.07: Foale spoke with Wendy Lawrence, his successor. He says that his 
'little room is in vacuum now'.   Meanwhile the radio-amateur Packet Radio 
transmissions on 145.985 mc have been resumed.  (this means that the power 
supply situation really improved)
During the pass in Orb. 64925 Tsibliyev reports: 'At about 1100UTC we heard 
some dull claps or knocks. It was not clear
 what it was.  When we at 1103UTC entered the light from the shadow  we saw a 
big cloud of very little white flakes nea r the Module-O (Spektr).  Obviously 
there is fuel leaking away from somewhere'. He asked TsUP to check  the 
fueltanks b y Telemetry. 
That's all for now folks.
Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202
--- Maximus 2.01
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