MIRNEWS.345                    12 FEBRUARY 1997
Soyuz-TM25 docked at MIR-complex:
Without significant problems S-TM25  docked at the aft (+X axis) of MIR on 
12.02.97 at 15.51.13UTC. During this operation the Russians still used the 
system Kurs. The automatic mode worked well from the beginning and only in a 
distance of 5 M. Tsibliyev had to take over manually due to a slight 
deviation along the X axis (roll). 
After some little corrections he accomplished a soft 'kasaniye' (touch).  
During the first pass of both objects for our position (orb. 62758)  
1541-1548UTC approach traffic could be monitored on 121.750 mc, but the full 
Altair-1/MIR window  (1510-1618UTC) was in use for this traffic.  In fact 
S-TM25 used for communications with TsUP 2 relay facilities: MIR and 
Altair-1.  In this traffic Tsibliyev and Lazutkin (Siriusy) as well as Korzon 
(Fregat) could be heard.  The moment of the soft docking could be derived 
from the word 'congratulations'  spoken by one of the cosmonauts. During the 
next pass (orb. 62759), 1720-1726UTC, the hatch had already been opened and 
the pass thereafter (orb. 62760/61) the new crew was inside MIR. 
Communicatons S-TM25: 3 hours after launch on 10.2.97 (orb. 2,1712-1714UTC) 
the transmissions of the ship could be monitored on the well known 
frequencies with Tsibliyev on 121.750 mc with TsUP.  During the next pass 
(1841-1848UTC) he reported the good results of the 2 orbitcorrections. He 
also mentioned some
problems with a TV-installation or a screen.  Apart from some interference by 
the groundservices of a near by airport (also using 121.750 mc, but AM-W) the 
signals came in loud and clear. Also during the second  day (11.02.1997) 
traffic could be heard during all passes for our position. 
Communications MIR:  On 8.02.1997 DLR's GSOC in Oberpfaffenhofen (Germany) 
and MIR tested the direct link via the
quasi-geostationary comsat Altair-1 over 16dgs West. 
Good images and audio from inside MIR demonstrated that the test was a great 
success. They also checked the performance of the so called BDD 
(Betriebstechnik Deutschland Direkt).  This is an interface assembly for 
direct data exchange between specialists on earth and Reinhold Ewald during 
experiments in the framework of  the MIR-97 program.  A few days later it was 
clear that the direct link between GSOC and MIR  will be a normal routine 
until 2.03.1997 (the end of MIR-97). 
PS: A tragic event in my family  caused delay in the mailing of this report.  
 
Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202 E-mail: cmvdberg@worldaccess.nl
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