MIRNEWS.376                                               8 AUGUST 1997
Soyuz-TM26:  This transportship docked at the aft port of MIR on 7.08.1997 at 
17.02.08 UTC. During the dockingoperation
 communications took place via Altair-2. The approach was in the automatic 
mode with the system Kurs. When MIR and S-TM 26 came within my VHF-range 
Solovyov could be heard reporting distances, approach speeds and deviations 
in course.  Eve rything went perfect until appr. 1700UTC when a slight upward 
deviation forced Solovyov to take over manually.  The 'Ku rs' failure did not 
get much attention due to the euphoria after the 'successful' docking. 
Opening of the hatches: The hatches swung open during the pass in orb. 65507 
at 1832UTC.  Normally this is a smooth and
 orderly procedure but this time there were some problems with the TV-link. 
Cheerfully both crews met each other.  Duri ng the pass in orb. 65508, 
2006-2013UTC, TsUP and Solovyov discussed the conservation of the S-TM26 and 
some technical items.  The session was concluded by the transfer of 
radiograms from Earth to MIR by Packet Radio. 
Communications during the 2d flightday of Soyuz-TM26:  In all passes good 
reception on all frequencies.  In a conversat ion with someone on Earth 
Vinogradov told that he somewhat suffered from spacesickness during the first 
flight day and in the morning of the 2d one, but after eating  somewhat 
substantional he recovered and was now feeling well.
Progress-M35: This supplyship undocked from MIR on 6.08 at 11.46.45UTC. 
MIR: Thusfar Tsibliyev and Lazutkin did not succeed in repairing the Elektron 
oxygen generator in Kvant-1. There are so me options to solve the problem: 1. 
With a  sparepart to be delivered by Atlantis in September,  or 2. to try to 
find a
 way to deliver power to the Elektron in the now curtailed module Kvant-2.  
For the time being oxygen has to be generat ed by the heating of lithium 
perchlorate cartridges. Not so convenient with 5 men on board. 
Plans: (as far as known at deadline for this report) :
Return of Tsibliyev and Lazutkin with their Soyuz-TM25 on 14.08.1997.  (In my 
opinion a return of the relieved crew as soon as possible due to the oxygen 
problems would be a logical decision). 
The redocking of Soyuz-TM26 with on board Solovyov, Vinogradov and Foale from 
 aft to forward docking port (P.Kh.O.) on
 15.08. 1997.
The return and docking  in the automatic mode (Kurs) of Progress-M35 at the 
aft docking port on 16.08.1997. 
Chris Vandenberg, NL-9165/A-UK3202. 
--- Maximus 2.01
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