MIRNEWS.409                                                           23 
February 1998
Progress-M37 redocked at MIR:
The docking took place on 23.02.1998 at 09.42.27UTC. Approach and docking 
were executed in the automatic mode with the system Kurs.  During the final 
phase of the operation Musabayev was ready to take over the control manually 
with the sy stem TORU. 
The window for traffic via Altair-2 was in use from 0857UTC until the 
docking. Musabayev reported about  what they did in relation to the approach 
operation.  At 0858UTC Musabayev reported that he could see the lights of the 
Pr-M37. Later
 on he reported what he could see via monitors of the Kurs and TORU systems. 
At 0859UTC M. started a test of TORU. The system worked well and reacted 
faultlessly  on all commands. When he switched off  TORU at 0905UTC he 
reported that the
 test results were positive. Hereafter he continued to follow the movements 
of Pr-M37 and he reported the distances and
 approach speeds. At 0910UTC audio communications via Altair-2 stopped and 
from that moment Altair-2 transmitted images
 of the MIR-complex seen via a camera in the Progress.  At that moment the 
distance was 220 meters and the approach spe ed 0.8 M/sec. 
 At 0930UTC, MIR still could be seen via Altair-2,  communications continued 
via VHF.  Also the transmitters of Pr-M37 on 922.755 and in the 166 and 165 
mc bands could be heard. TCA for my position was 09.30.40UTC. During this 
VHF-window the crew got permission for the docking and at LOS at 0937UTC the 
distance between MIR and Pr-M37 was 162 meters with a n approach speed of 
0.94 M/sec. 
Fortunately it was reported that the docking had been successful. 
During the next window of Altair-2 the transponders were switched on at 
1023UTC and Musabayev tried to get in touch wit h TsUP.  He repeatedly called 
TsUP, but did not get any reaction. Just before Altair-2 switched off there 
was a short l ink at 1047UTC.  
Smell: After the opening of the hatch of Pr-M37 some orbits later a strong 
terrible smell came out the freighter.  Poss ibly a bag or container with 
garbage had gone  open. The crew decided to set the hatch to the Progress 
ajar. 
 Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202
 
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