Conference 7.286::space

    the crew use the Soyuz T-15 as a 'space taxi' to make the 1875 mile
    trip form MIR to Salyut_7 bringing with them replacement equipment,
    supplies and even plants cultivated in space
    they arrived at 16:58 utc on tue the 6th of may and live TV (CCCP)
    covverage , they (CCCP) are getting more open now that there space
    station has gone 'civilian'
    john
    

Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: decwrl!labrea!rutgers!ucsd!ucbvax!ANDREW.CMU.EDU!ota+
Subject: Excerpts from THE HOME PLANET
Posted: 16 Jan 89 18:52:44 GMT
Organization: The Internet
 
    I got a copy of THE HOME PLANET for Christmas and found this small
excerpt interesting enough to send.  I recommend the book highly.  It
is very interesting in that it gives some insight into the human side
of space exploration.  The pictures, though no attempt is made at
systematic coverage, are terrific.  Special commendation should be
given to the translators who seem to have done a great job. 
[See SPACE Topic 474 for details on THE HOME PLANET. - LK]

    The following quotes in the book are from the Soviet cosmonauts
who had to reactive the SALYUT 7 space station, which had ceased to
function in Earth orbit months earlier: 
 
    "After the third major mission, SALYUT 7 was mothballed, and for
five months it was maintained by radio control.  Then communication
ceased and Salyut went silent. 
    "Dzhanibekov and I were launched into space to find the SALYUT 7,
which had gone 'on strike'.  After changing orbits, we searched for
the station from the spacecraft for two days.  At last, the man-made
star rose above the horizon and flashed in the rays of the sun. 
    "We floated into the station and turned on the lights, which did
not, of course, light up.  There was complete darkness, deadly cold
and an ill-boding, oppressive, and truly cosmic silence." - Viktor Savinykh
 
    "We left the spacecraft and entered outer space, and hurtling high above 
the Earth beside the vast and silent SALYUT 7, we studied it attentively. 
    "The solar panels were strangely oriented, their photoelectric
cells peeling away in pieces, and looking for all the world like
storm-torn sails.  The once bright green shell had been burned and was
now covered in greyish-rust spots.  The portholes were all closed by
shutters on the inside.  No damage, however, could be seen on the hull
of the craft.  Well, what has happened to you, cosmic wandererer, we
asked, but we got no answer." - Valdimir Dzhanibekov
 
    "The station had fallen into trouble without people aboard and met
us with an icy silence.  In absolute silence Viktor Savinykh and I
inspected the compartments.  The beam of the flashlight picked out the
various items of equipment, all in their correct places along the
sides.  The interior was in ideal condition.  The traditional Russian
welcoming gift of bread and salt had been left on the tiny table by
Leonid Kizim, Volodya Solovyov, and Oleg At'kov, together with a
letter asking those who came after them to look after this house and
wishing them success." - Valdimir Dzhanibekov
 
    "For seven long days, working both during the day-side parts of
the orbit and by flashlight, we tried to find out what was causeing
the solar panels to fail.  We wanted to get at least one bulb to light.  
Finally, we found the culprits when we checked all the storage batteries. 
    "Two of them had gone out of commission.  We undid the thickly
plaited cabling and connected the solar panels directly so that they
always faced the sun.  The batteries began to recharge and finally
there was light. 
    "Automation is indeed a wonderful thing, but in the end humanity
has the last word." - Viktor Savinykh

      "It were not best that we should all think alike; it is difference
   of opinion that makes horse races. 

             - Mark Twain, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar"

From: [email protected] (Andrew J Hasara)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Salyut 7
Date: 22 Jan 90 22:17:40 GMT
 
    It appears that Mir will soon be alone in the skies.  According to
the latest issue of "Spaceflight", the Soviet Space station Salyut 7
is out of correction fuel, and is spinning with one end (according to
an included diagram it is the "back" end where the Progress tankers
dock) pointing down. 

     The station will reenter on its own within 3-4 years, but the
Soviets are expecting to use a Progress or Soyuz to deorbit the
station into the ocean, lest it come down on some poor Aussie's head :-). 

    A. Hasara
    aka.  [email protected]
    President, Andy's Space Salvage and Privateering

    Re: Salyut 7
    	There is also the very real possibility that the Soviets will still
    be able to recover Salyut 7 using Buran. All they will need to do is
    dock a Progress-class spacecraft to the drifting station (which should
    be possible) to either remotely refuel it or stabilize/raise its orbit
    until it can be retrieved. Salyut 7, if recovered in the next 2 or 3
    years, would give Soviet scientists invaluable information on the
    effects of decade long exposure to space on large structures. It is
    still far too early to write Salyut 7 off yet.
    
    				Drew
    

    
    	I thought Buran was not yet usable, and the Soviet shuttle program
    is far behind our own.  I'm wondering, do I smell a possible "rescue"
    mission for Salyut 7 utilizing OUR shuttles, at the request of the
    Soviets?  That would be a terriffic propoganda story for both of
    our gov'ts, and would help reestablish a close working relationship
    in space between the USA & USSR.
    
    	Anyone think this is feasable?
    
    	McQ
    
    

    Re:.5
    	It's possible (i.e. having the US Shuttle recover Salyut 7) but
    highly unlikely for several reasons:
    
    - The US Shuttle schedule is pretty tight. Unless the US has something
    major to gain out of this retreival, it is unlikely to offer its
    services.
    
    - There is the issue of who pays for the recovery. The Soviet space
    budget is awful tight now-a-days and the Soviet government is unlikely
    to part with a quarter of a billion dollars of hard currency to pay for
    it.
    
    - The Soviet Shuttle program has been slowed down but it will probably
    be available long before Salyut 7 is in danger of falling out of orbit
    especially if a Progress-class tug is used to keep it up there.
    
    - It would be cheaper to use the Soviet Shuttle to recover Salyut 7
    than using the American Shuttle (if it were made available).
    
    				Drew
    
    

    
    	re: Drew
    
    	I agree that it would be cheaper for the Soviets to utilize
    their own shuttle, should it become available in time to be useful
    in this endeavour.
    
    	Sure, the US Shuttle schedule is tight, but I think that if
    we received a request from the Soviets to embark on this mission
    for them (which probably won't happen), the powers that be would
    find some way of rescheduling, in the interests of improving relations
    with the Soviets in the area of joint space ventures.
    
    	Who would pay for it?  We'd undoubtedly work out some deal that
    would not result in the Russians laying out .25B$ , but might result
    in some aid package for Eastern Europe, certain economic concessions
    in the openning Soviet marketplace, etc.  Granted, this is rampant
    speculation, but it could happen.
    
    	McQ
    

    I check the radio tlm from the S-7 complex (actually form the
    Cosmos unit attached to it) and I could not find any trace of
    it....   Has anyone copyied the 19.954 MHZ signal lately...
    I did about 30-60 days ago, I would have to look in my log book
    
    cheers john
    

    I'd have to join the "unlikely" side.
    
    Anyone know if the shuttle COULD withstand the stress of pushing
    something as heavy as Salyut-7 into a high enough orbit?
    
    The Russians would probably not ask because they would not want
    to look as though they have inferior space technology (Note: I said
    LOOK like). Asking would make them appear weak.
    
    They would not ask as there is always the chance that the US would
    say "no". That would make the Soviets look foolish. Yes, it could
    be made into a US political error (here we ask for some simple
    cooperation, and theyjust turned their back on scientific progress
    and cooperation....)
    
    Aid packages STILL require $250 million outlay in hard currency,
    which Gorbachev does not have to spare.
    
    					-**Ted**-

    	Well, this weekend I have found out that it is UNlikely that the
    Soviets will recover Salyut 7 using their Space Shuttle. It was an
    option at one point (that is why it is in a high storage orbit) but
    recovery has now been judged as being far too complicated. It would
    cost too much to develop the hardware and procedures for recovery. A
    less expensive option would be to use a Progress class spacecraft to
    deorbit the station after a manned Soyuz visited the station to remove
    samples from its structure.
    
    				Drew