MIRNEWS.408                                                           21 
February 1998
MIR-routine:  On 19.02.1998,  just after the return of the relieved crew and 
Eyharts to earth the new crew reported a m alfunction of the separation 
system of the SRV-U (the system to regenerate water out of urine). In 
coordination with an
 expert on earth Budarin coped  with this unpleasant repair job. 
Redocking of Soyuz-TM27 from aft to forward port: 
 
This operation took place on 20.02.1998 between 0847 and 0932UTC during a 
window in which the S-TM27 via MIR could comm unicate with TsUP via Altair-2. 
Musabayev  steered the S-TM27.  In fact this was not a flight around the 
MIR-complex bu t after the undocking of S-TM27 at 08.47.45UTC Musabayev 
brought his ship in a safe station keeping distance from the c omplex.  He  
reported the distances in meters.  The maximum distance was  reported approx. 
60 meters.  As soon as S-TM2 7 was far enough from MIR the complex executed a 
rotation  of 180 degrees in the horizontal plane (Z-axis). In this way
 the aft docking port turned away and S-TM27 came in a position right in 
front of the forward (-X-axis,  transition sec tion) port. This meant just a 
minimal fuel consumption for S-TM27.   
 
Regretfully something went wrong with the communications.  From  the outset   
there was a very stable link via Altair-2 , but this ceased at 09.06.10UTC.  
At that moment MIR and S-TM27 were not yet in range of Russian 
trackingstations and so the crew and TsUP were unable to contact each other.  
The window for the use of Altair-2 was open until 0933UTC.  Th e 
communications via Altair-2 were not restored before 0933UTC and so later on 
they had to use 121.750 mc for direct co ntact with Russian tracking 
stations. Here they also encountered problems.  For the  crew   an unpleasant 
experience.  The official statement spoke about the fact that there had been 
something wrong with the relay between MIR and Altair-2 .    Probably  wrong 
commands for the transmitter selection played a role. 
At 0932UTC Musabayev manually accomplished the soft touch. This touch was so 
smooth that a surprized Andy Thomas was st ill waiting for the 'bump' when 
the docking  had already taken place. 
After returning on board MIR  they met other problems: the crew had to work  
on the life support systems.  They switche d on the Elektron oxygen 
generators in Module D as well as in  Module-E (Kvant-1). There were problems 
with a Vozdukh C O2 scrubber, a pressure meter in the Kvant-1 and an 
airpressure egalisation valve in the transitionsection (P.Kh.O.). 
Progress-M37 (fingers crossed please!):  The redocking of this freighter at 
the aft docking port is scheduled for 23.02 .1998 at about 0930UTC.  On 
21.02.1998 the crew started tests of the TORU,  the system to guide Pr-M37  
manually from i nside MIR.  It is not clear  yet  with the TORU system  or 
that  TORU will only be standing by  in case the automatic K URS-system fails 
.  Budarin spoke about a number of 'insignificant anomalies'.  He asked for 
better instructions  for t he camerawork during the planned  operation. In 
his opinion good video recordings are essential and he referred to the 
problems Tsibliyev and Lazutkin had. Due to the insufficient recordings it 
had been easier to blame them for that what happened last June. 
 
 
 
Whatever the  method for the approach will be:   the automatic or manual mode 
 it will be an exciting event.  During th e estimated docking time MIR and 
Progress-M37 are in my range and there is also a window via Altair-2.  And 
believe me:
 I will be alert!!
 
Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202. 
 
 
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