MIRNEWS.339                         3 JANUARY 1997
  
  Solar-orbit:   As of 1.01.1997 the MIR-complex will
  remain in a so called solar-orbit for 1 week.  This means
  that the MIR  remains in the sunlight and has no
  shadowperiods.  While large areas on the Northern
  Hemisphere experience very low temperatures  these are
  high on board the space-station.  The cosmonauts and the
  astronaut  have to wear airy clothing. Periods like this
  are very good for the execution of space-walks (EVA-s),
  but regretfully there are no  more EVA-s planned  for
  this expedition. 
  
  Communications: Now and then the (almost) geostationary
  satellite Cosmos-2054 (Altair-1) is used for the TsUP-MIR
  communications. This satellite is standing over 16 dgs
  West.  Sometimes the satellite is used for phone only,
  but more often to exchange TV-transmissions. On
  27.12.1996 during orbit 62024 Korzun explained the
  experiment Volna and  the behaviour of liquids in this
  instrument could be seen.   They use the  Altair-1
  satellite also for interviews, press-conferences and
  Packetradio  for reception and transmission of
  radiograms.  In the near future the DLR-groundfacility in
  Oberpfaffenhofen will use this satellite for direct
  contacts with  European astronauts.    
  
  Radio-amateurism:  On 1.01.1997 the crew changed the
  frequencies for radio-amateurtraffic in the 145 Mc band. 
  They now also use duplex (split) for Packet radio
  traffic.  They changed the frequencies as follows:
  Uplink (transmissions to MIR) for Phone and P/R 145.200
  Mc; downlink (from MIR to Earth,  for Phone as well as
  for P/R 145.800 Mc.   
  Changes like this can always be expected: the change
  which is suitable for 1 region might be unfavourable for
  other regions.  This change is very good for the amateur-
  satellite band between 145.800-146 Mc as strong
  groundstations no longer hamper weak Oscar downlink
  signals  around 145.800 Mc.  
  
  Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202
--- Maximus 2.01
---------------