Conference 7.286::space

    If they undock the Soyuz and don't move too far away, it should
    make for impressive TV pictures.
    
    gary

    You really have to hand it to the Soviets, they've managed to make
    access to space comparatively easy and have established the first
    "real" working space station.  Every time I hear of the achivements
    of the Soviet Union in space I'm reminded of the old tortoise and
    hare fable.  No one would disagree that the U.S. probably has the
    lead in researching advanced propulsion technology, etc., etc.,
    but the Soviets sure know how to utilize their "tried and true"
    technology.  Witness how quickly they recovered from the explosion
    of one of their Proton-class boosters recently.
    
    My history professor is fond of quoting some trivia concerning the
    ancient Greeks and Romans:  "The Greeks had the brains, but the
    Romans built the drains.".  Kind of corny, but it definitely has
    an application to the current situation.
    
    Sure hope the Soviets decide to show some TV pictures, and that
    the [flame on] bleeding-heart liberal [flame off] media decides
    to run them on U.S. news (CNN probably will, Ted's a Red, right?).
    
    Definitely not how I thought the space race would wind up ten
    years ago . . .
    

    impressive observation can be made for viewers in the EAST
    Coast of the US from late eve hours and early predawn hrs.
    RM announed that the unit will arrive early Sunday AM
    there is 8 hours difference between EST and Moscow time.
    So look up in the HAMS note file how to get a copy of
    Satellite Prediction Software and dont forget that
    Sunday AM moscow time is our Sat night EST.
    When combined the units should be as bright as the
    brighest star in the skies. ( less sun and moon)
      
    RM also announced that 5 more such units would be send to
    MIR and latter corrected to 4 more an a total of 5.
    
    I will post a run for Boston Viewing area, but go out
    at least 10 to 15 min early and for several reason
    one to get night vision, but two - more important MIR is an active
    space craft an slight orbit changes can cause several
    min plus or minus form predicted times                     
    
    
    jb
    

note all time are in UTC    EST = UTC -  5 hours
north  is AZ = 0 degrees
          EL is elevation above the horrizon

So AZ = 345 and EL 33
 would mean look NNW 33 deg elevation

      U.T.C.    AZ   EL  DOPPLER  RANGE   HEIGHT   LAT   LONG  PHASE
     HHMM:SS   deg  deg     hz      km      km    N+S-   W+E-  <256>
      4/ 4/87 SAT               -----DAY #  94----ORBIT #   6442----
     0734:00   261  4.8    3206    1740     363   38.6   90.4   167
     0736:00   278   18    2855     994     362   43.1   82.4   172
     0738:00   345   33     650     637     361   46.8   73.1   178
     0740:00    37   14   -3699    1136     360   49.6   62.6   184
     0742:00    50  3.0   -3605    1904     359   51.2   51.1   189

      U.T.C.    AZ   EL  DOPPLER  RANGE   HEIGHT   LAT   LONG  PHASE
     HHMM:SS   deg  deg     hz      km      km    N+S-   W+E-  <256>
      4/ 5/87 SUN               -----DAY #  95----ORBIT #   6457----
     0626:00   238  1.9    3350    2004     365   32.0   88.8   157
     0628:00   240   13    3291    1176     364   37.1   82.1   163
     0630:00   254   53    2654     457     363   41.8   74.4   168
     0632:00    50   29   -2988     717     362   45.7   65.5   174
     0634:00    55  7.8   -4257    1514     361   48.9   55.4   179
     0636:00    56 -1.2   -3404    2348     359   50.9   44.1   185

      U.T.C.    AZ   EL  DOPPLER  RANGE   HEIGHT   LAT   LONG  PHASE
     HHMM:SS   deg  deg     hz      km      km    N+S-   W+E-  <256>
      4/ 6/87 MON               -----DAY #  96----ORBIT #   6472----
     0520:00   213  6.0    3236    1634     365   30.3   80.1   153
     0522:00   195   21    2843     888     364   35.6   73.6   158
     0524:00   116   35     113     620     363   40.4   66.3   164
     0526:00    73   13   -4076    1211     362   44.6   57.8   169
     0528:00    63  2.0   -3570    2005     361   48.0   48.0   175
    
    

    1) I  forgot this is APR MIR will only be back lit 
       thus visable up to about 10 pm local time and again
       about 2 to 3 hours before sunrise so these orbit will
       not be visable look for the early  9 hours UTC ones
       Not until June will MIR be visable all night long
    
    2) will the person requesting more information please 
       send me a mail message agin, sorry I wrote you a
       reply but had accidentally deleted the mail message
       so I do not have your  return node name etc
    
    3) and since this new unit is 4.2 Meter in dia and only 6
       meter long it could be the mysterious 1/2 height moudle
       that was seen in AW several months ago, if so it may be
       able to do a rear docking and provide for refuling or
       have its own rocket thrusters, or they may try gravity
       gradiant stablization

Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: decwrl!decvax!ucbvax!LL-VLSI.ARPA!glenn%ll-vlsi.arpa
Subject: USSR adds addition to MIR space station.
Posted: 31 Mar 87 20:25:00 GMT
Organization: The ARPA Internet
  
    The Soviet Union has today (March 30) announced the launching of
the first large addition to their MIR space station.  This "star"
module has a mass of about twenty tons, and is about the same size as
the MIR station itself.  This section, called ROENTGEN in the West
(the Russian name for it was garbled in the announcement), is devoted
to high energy (X-ray) astronomy, and contains equipment built by the
West Germans and the British.  One interesting point is that the
module has its own life support system, which means that it can act as
a free flyer to some extent.  No date of the docking to MIR was given.
It was not stated whether ROENTGEN was going to dock to the rear
docking port of MIR, or the front axial one.  The Soviet plans call
for modules docked to the forward axial port to be transferred by a
remote manipulator attachment to one of the four side ports of the
front docking "ball". However, MIR was launched without its
manipulators in place (they would not fit inside the launch shroud),
and it was planned that they would be added later on, in an EVA which
has not yet taken place.  Actually, this launch is even a little ahead
of schedule, because the Russians had stated to the Western
researchers that the module would be up there by the end of this May. 
 
    One other interesting point is that of the two cosmonauts
currently on MIR, the rookie one, Alexander Laveikin, has already
obtained 1270 hours of zero-G time on his first mission.  On April 12,
he will exceed the duration of the highest time of a currently active
US astronaut (Owen Garriott with 1674 hours from SKYLAB 3 and STS-9). 
By coincidence(?), April 12 is also the 26th anniversary of Yuri
Gagarin's flight on VOSTOK 1, which opened the age of man in space. 
 
   Again the USSR is moving ahead.  Meanwhile, Congress is now trying
to cut 2.1 billion dollars out of NASA's funds.  Is that what we
really want? 
 
                                             Glenn Chapman
                                             MIT Lincoln Lab


Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: decwrl!ucbvax!AMES-PIONEER.ARPA!eugene
Subject: Re: USSR adds addition to MIR space station (budget cuts)
Posted: 31 Mar 87 23:52:00 GMT
Organization: The ARPA Internet
 
References: <[email protected]>
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Keywords: apathy, astrology, science
 
    "We do not live in a scientific society." R. P. Feynman.
 
    In Glenn Chapman writes:

>   Again the USSR is moving ahead. Mean while the congress is now trying to cut
>2.1 billion out of NASA's funds.  Is that what we really want?
>
>     Glenn Chapman
>     MIT Lincoln Lab
 
    Excuse my obvious paycheck bias for a moment.  Yes, as a matter of
fact, I do think a majority of people want this. 
 
    I don't know this is a depressing topic when with Economic
tradewars, new tax forms, and the concern of a TV evangelical sex
scandal making news.  Students in college only worried about getting
jobs which make lots of money.  Forty percent of of our society reads
horoscopes ferverently.  We have concerns about the so-called Rust
Belt, while we burn petroleum at a good rate.  The military space
budget is growing. Reminds me of the TWILIGHT ZONE episode, "Third
From the Sun", and the OUTER LIMITS episode "The Hinterlands" (I
think). 
 
    In some ways, it would be neat of the "scientific" part of society
could divorce itself from the rest.  I thought about the new Science
City in Japan, but one could easily be branded a B. Arnold.  The
problem is in changing (expanding) everyone's short term bias.  Yes,
we have to eat, sleep, breath, drink water, and yes we have some
longer term goals like producing food and shelter (sound like things
we would have to do in space, too?). But what else do we do with our
time?  Does going into space require some type of totalitarian society
or "obvious" political consideration?  I would hope not.  The Chinese
tried democratizing intellect during the 1960s without success, and I
doubt many netters would enjoy spending time growing their own food,
etc.  We want to reach for the stars, but the box we are standing on
is too small and too fragile. 
 
    Much of industry does not want to go into space.  Face it, it's a
hostile place.  Distances are vast (really big!).  Lots of unknowns
and one false move and who knows?  Suggestions (besides writing
Cong-persons)?  Don't post, send mail, I'll summarize.  (We'll see who
reads this far.) 
 
    From the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers:
 
--eugene miya
  NASA Ames Research Center
  [email protected]

  "You trust the `reply' command with all those different mailers out there?"
  "Send mail, avoid follow-ups.  If enough, I'll summarize."
  {hplabs,hao,ihnp4,decwrl,allegra,tektronix,menlo70}!ames!aurora!eugene


Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: decwrl!pyramid!oliveb!ames!cit-vax!oddhack!jon
Subject: Re: USSR adds addition to Mir space station (budget cuts)
Posted: 1 Apr 87 06:00:59 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology
 
    In article <[email protected]>
[email protected] (Eugene Miya N.) writes: 

>In Glenn Chapman writes:
>>   Again the USSR is moving ahead.  Meanwhile Congress is now
>>trying to cut 2.1 billion out of NASA's funds.  Is that what we really want?

>Excuse my obvious paycheck bias for a moment.  Yes, as a matter of fact,
>I do think a majority of people want this.
 
    From time to time the pro-space organizations will put out
literature saying 'polls show the public support space...'. What they
rarely do is show the poll in its entirety.  Here's a revealing one
from the March 30 TIME Magazine (pg 37), in response to the question: 
 
	``Should Govt. spending be increased, decreased or kept
	  the same for the following programs?''

		               Inc.    Dec.  Kept Same
- Health programs for		78	2	18
   the elderly
- Enviroment			73	5	19
- Aid to homeless		71	5	21
- Health services for		71	5	22
   the poor
- Nutrition programs for	55	6	34
   mothers and infants
- Reducing acid rain		54	11	25
   pollution
- Low & moderate income		54	11	32
   housing
- Loans & grants to 		52	15	29
   college students
- Food Stamps			33	24	36
- SPACE PROGRAM			33	27	34	<----- *
- Military			31	25	38
- Star Wars			23	35	26
 
    A public that wants food stamps more than a space program is not
going to support the recommendations of the National Commission on
Space, the NASA panel, or any other such group, as laudable as they
may be. A strong Free World presence in space is going to come about
one of three ways: 
 
	- Military (ick!)
	- National prestige (APOLLO-like)
	- Profit making private enterprises (yeah!)
 
    There is just no political base for the civilian space program. 
With the exception of a few districts in Texas, Florida, and
California, there's no direct benefit.  If we follows Murray and
Sagan's suggestion to make Mars the center of our civilian space
efforts, in twenty years or so we'll have landed men there - and be
left with NOTHING again, just like APOLLO. 
 
    Sure, I'll write my Congressmen; but my real hope for getting into
space in this lifetime is with organizations like the Space Studies
Institute and the university consortium which wants to make Shuttle
external tanks into a el cheapo space station, not with the
gold-plated, ill-supported, and ill-defined NASA Space Station (one
plan has full operating capability at 1998 now... and, I have little
doubt, it's slipping). 
 
    -- Jon Leech ([email protected] || ...seismo!cit-vax!jon)
    Caltech Computer Science Graphics Group
    __@/


Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Path: decwrl!pyramid!ctnews!sri-unix!rutgers!lll-lcc!seismo!mnetor!utzoo!henry
Subject: condensed space news from Jan 19 AW&ST
Posted: 29 Mar 87 00:34:36 GMT
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Xref: decwrl sci.space:1102 sci.space.shuttle:141
 
    Soviet Union 1986 launch schedule was 91 missions, slightly fewer
than earlier years due to longer-lived satellites.  First 1987 launch
was a weather satellite on Jan 5. 
  
    First full-scale SRB firing slips to mid-March; delay in STS-26
possible. 
 

    There is another way to move it to a side port, you don't need
    an arm on MIR.  In recent drawing of MIR there on the Transfer
    Module beside the 4 Laterial ports and 1 Forward port is the
    Manipulator Arm Socket.  The specialized modules can carry
    an arm which will be attached to this socket near the forward
    port and will be then used as a lever to transfer the module 
    to one of the lateral ports.
                                                             
    

    re .7
    
    My understanding is that each module moving itself into position
    is the intended mode of operation rather than wait for a more general
    purpose manipulator.
    
    gary

RM:WS announced that the crew of MIR are preparing to
send back home the results & material of the First
experiments in studying the material racecourses of the
Earth and also the space technology test.  The crew
among other things took photographs of different
regions of the USSR & conducted experiments to produce
semiconductors on the KORUND device. A 20 ton Astro-
physical module launch on Tue is to dock with MIR
on Sunday.

********  
comments jb
what does this mean, 
1) they plain to leave the crew there and return TM2, 
   this would solve the docking problem but....... like being in a canoe
    with out a paddle.
2) they have either in TM2 or the new Astrophysic
   module a return craft ... I think that would be
   a first


    

TASS has reported that the docking of the module with MIR failed because
of a breakdown in the guidance system.

(On TV news 16:30 GMT)

jb - Reading, England

    re .9
    
    I think some of the Salyuts (prob the military/earth resources ones)
    returned film canisters independantly of Soyuz returns.
    
    re .10
    
    Unfortunate. I hope it doesn't make them become more secretive again.
    
    gary

    from AP...
    
Associated Press Mon  6-APR-1987 12:04                           Soviet-Space

   Soviets Apparently Will Try Failed Space Docking Again
    
   MOSCOW (AP) - The government newspaper Izvestia today indicated
scientists will try again to dock an unmanned laboratory with the
orbiting Mir space station after a first attempt failed.
   ``Experts, with the help of the most modern computer equipment,
will analyze what happened and will definitely find the needed
solution,'' the paper reported in a story headlined ``First
Attempt.''
   Izvestia provided some details about Sunday's failure, in which
the 11-ton module called Kvant, carrying an orbital observatory and
other laboratory equipment, flew to within 200 yards of the Mir
station but was unable to link up with it.
   Even so, the article did not make clear why the rendezvous
failed and did not say where the module was.
   On Sunday, the Tass news agency said ``irregular functioning of
the control system'' prevented the docking.
   The Izvestia article said the docking procedure had been
proceeding ``according to schedule'' with ``everything on
automatic.''
   It said the distance between the two craft was slowly closing
and that, when they were 380 yards apart, a docking bar on the
Kvant was moved into place.
   When the distance had narrowed to 200 yards, cosmonaut Valery
Ryumin, working in a ground control station, told the cosmonauts
aboard Mir that ``the control system on board the module is
switched off.''
   Ryumin then asked the cosmonauts, Yuri Romanenko and Alexander
Laveikin, to look out a porthole. They said they saw the Kvant
module, but that it was moving slowly away.
   The Kvant module was launched March 31 and was scheduled to
connect to one of Mir's six docking ports. Kvant is carrying a ton
of scientific instruments and more than two tons of other equipment
for the Mir station, including an orbital observatory, according to
Soviet media.
   Earlier reports did not mention whether Kvant also carried
supplies for the cosmonauts. In March, Soviet media announced the
successful docking of a cargo craft carrying food, fuel, water and
equipment for Romanenko and Laveikin, whose mission began Feb. 6.
   The Mir station was launched in February 1986.
   Sunday's failure was the seventh time a Soviet spacecraft has
been unable to rendezvous with an orbiting space station. The
previous failures involved manned Soyuz craft, which returned to
earth after missing their goal. The last such failure was in April
1983, when a Soyuz failed to connect with the Salyut-7 space
station.
    

British TV news (can't recall which channel) said that they had independent
sources (I assume radio communication intercepts) and that the two
cosmonauts (in the Soyuz TM2 wearing suits and helmets) saw KVANT approach
to within 10 metres of MIR. 

jb

Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: decwrl!decvax!ucbvax!LL-VLSI.ARPA!glenn
Subject: Troubles with the Soviet Module for MIR
Posted: 8 Apr 87 18:37:22 GMT
Organization: The ARPA Internet
  
    The Soviet Union has run into some problems with the "star" module
addition to their MIR space station over the past few days.  Called
KVANT (Quantum), this 20-ton system was to create a major expansion of
MIR (see below). Launched on March 31 they had announced it would dock
on Sunday.  However at that time they said that the auto docking
system failed whenever they brought the module within 200 meters of
MIR.  At that distance it kept veering away from MIR.  They stopped
the system at that point and said that they try again in a few days,
but yesterday (Apr. 7) they talked about delaying another attempt
several more days. 

    KVANT consists of a 12-ton station section with 40 cubic meters of
habitable volume.  There is a vacuum section with X-ray and UV
telescopes, mostly West German or British instruments (with some
USSR).  It also contains a huge 10-ton descent stage is present to
bring processed material down to Earth.  By comparison the descent
stage on previous Star Modules was in the 4-6 ton range.  It probably
can take around 10 cubic meters of material down (based on a smaller
habitable volume for this module).  KVANT was designed to dock to the
rear of MIR, opposite the  5 docking port "ball".  After the descent
module left it would open a docking where PROGESS tankers could
connect to refuel and supply the station, or SOYUZs' could attach to
bring up new crews. 

    Now for some rumors and speculation that make this event event
stranger. Considering how important this module obviously is it is
interesting that the Russians from their broadcasts and announcements
have been positively upbeat about correcting the problem (before
Glosnos an event like this would produce silence followed by a terse
"the vehicle achieved its mission" - it would also have been called
COSMOS xxxx until it docked).  Yet James Oberg stated in an interview
yesterday that it only had a battery system good for two weeks on its
own!  Why are they delaying the docking still longer if that is true? 
If problems occur they might try flying SOYUZ TM-2 over to it, but
could the SOYUZ dock to KVANT's front port (it certainly could to the
rear port after the descent module was jettison).  The SOYUZ could
recharge its batters for other tries and the crew could make some
repairs if needed.  This is the first automatic docking failure they
have had with a "star" module or PROGRESS tanker.  Two additional
strange points.  Before this failure occurred the Soviets said that
the two cosmonauts aboard MIR were preparing materials to be sent to
Earth - strange because the smaller descent modules used before have
generally stayed on the station for several months.  It would not seem
that they are making maximum use of the system that way - hence it
might be a test of some new vehicle (the lander portion).  Secondly
last night they said that the current crew would be up for only 3 to 4
months (more ? they have already been up there for nearly two).  This
would not put them up when the Syrian came up in July!  However in the
past they have made some statements about this crew not being trained
to run the KVANT module (it used to be called ROENTGEN in the West). 
There were indications of a new crew with an astrophysicist being sent
to run it.  This is getting stranger all the time. 

    Ok, now we will see how the Soviets handle what is a major space
problem under full international view.  In all previous events of this
kind nothing was said until long after the fact.  Will they close down
the news or will they kept it open? 
 
                                                 Glenn Chapman
                                                 MIT Lincoln Lab

    Hmmm...
    
    some British magasines I was reading last night showed the module
    docked at the rear port (diagrams) like the previous Star modules
    which made me wonder a little. The module apparently has solar panels
    which may be a workaround to the battery limitations.
    
    Soyuz docking systems are not androgynous, i.e. there is a polarity to
    the ports, as there was with Apollo. Since the rear port of the Mir
    will accept a Soyuz, the KVANT module must have the Soyuz side of the
    docking mechanism so I doubt a Soyuz could dock with the front of
    KVANT. If there is a rear port accessible (unclear, but the article
    implies that there is one but it is occupied by the return module) the
    Soyuz TM-2 or a Progress could dock with it and the assembled
    KVANT/Progress or KVANT/Soyuz TM could possibly dock under control of
    the Progress or Soyuz TM guidance. The new Kurs guidance system may be
    capable of being reprogrammed to deal with this. Maybe they would have
    to abandon the return module of KVANT to do this. Their demonstrated
    rapid launch capability gives them a few options. 
    
    It is interesting that they are so open instead of the old 'is glorious
    success, meeting all test objectives' approach. They must be fairly
    confident of getting soething to work. I suspect the pressure is on to
    make it work given the amount of instrumentation from other countries.
    Plus, NASA have show that the ability to recover from this sort of
    failure is good PR and it would demonstrate that the Soviets are
    getting closer to routine operations in space. 
    
    gary
    

    it was fun monitoring Radio Moscow about KVANT docking
    on Sunday as stated before the docking failed
    
    then on 9th apr
    0000 UTC RM talked about a new Soviet Space Plane and said it would
             be announce before it would be launch  then at
    0100 UTC RM announced that the MIR/KVANT docking had taken place
             but then at
    0200 UTC RM droped the MIR/KVANT docking story and went back to
             the 0000 utc story about the Soviet Space Plane then at
    1300 UTC RM announce that the docking had occured a 04:36 Moscow
             time, so the story at 0100 utc or 0400 moscow time was
             given early, probadly from the proposed plan , 
             reminds me of this week RM DX show, a monitor had written
             in wondering why he got Radio Moscow better in his 
             bathroom then in any other room in his house, I knew what
             he was saying but RM did not, and went on to tell of the
             incressed humidity and pipes .....  then at
    2100 UTC RM announced that there was a complex problem with the docking
             the docking was not hermetical sealed and their system
             have not been linked.
    
             AP news today had a detail article about the locking pin
             not fulling seating
    
    What does this mean to the Progress refuling , typical a new Progress
    unit with new fuel and supplies arrives every 2 months, at this
    rate one would be desired by the end of MAY.  If KVANT is not docked
    properly then I would assume that one could not dock a new Progress
    cargo ship.  Thanks for the info of the 10 ton return unit, that
    explains how they were going to get the process material and results
    of their experiments back to earth. Normaly the Progress units has
    a such a unit but P-28 has already been de-orbited, and usign the
    SOYUZ-TM-2 did not make sense. Also for this docking the crew has
    been changing the orbit of MIR frequently thus using up fuel.
    
    john
    
                                                                 

Associated Press Thu  9-APR-1987 16:32                           Soviet-Space

   Tass Says Module Docks with Space Station but Problems Continue
                        By MARK J. PORUBCANSKY
Associated Press Writer-
   MOSCOW (AP) - An unmanned spacecraft made contact with the
orbiting space station Mir on Thursday, but technical problems
prevented completion of the linkup, the official Tass news agency
said.
   Tass said the two space vehicles had a mechanical grip on each
other but were not docked. It was the second attempt to dock the
module with the space station.
   ``All of a few centimeters remain in order for the module and
the orbital complex to be actually docked,'' the report said.
   A rod from the module Kvant stuck after making its way nearly 15
inches into a dock of the space station, and efforts by the two
cosmonauts on board Mir to inspect the docking area also failed,
Tass said.
   The report, the second issued Thursday on the situation,
provided no other details but said specialists were trying to find
a solution.
   In its first report about eight hours after the early-morning
docking attempt, Tass said the docking was not complete and
indicated there had been mechanical problems.
   ``The on-board systems of the module functioned normally at
every stage of the rendezvous and docking,'' the report said.
``When mechanical contact between the docking units ... was
achieved, the spacecraft began to be linked up.
   ``Analysis of the telemetry information from the spacecraft
indicates, however, that the link-up of the module and the orbital
station is not complete,'' it added.
   When the Soviets launched the Kvant craft March 31, they
described it as a ``new chapter in the history of manned space
flight.'' Previous cargo ships have carried equipment to the Mir
craft, but Kvant carries its own laboratory bay with life-support
and communications equipment. It also carries an orbital laboratory
and other equipment for use by the cosmonauts on board the space
station.
   On Sunday, the Kvant came within 220 yards of Mir, but the
docking could not be completed.
   Tass said then that the docking failed because of ``irregular
functioning of the control system,'' but ground controller Valery
Ryumkin said Monday the failure was caused by scientists being too
cautious in developing the automated flight program.
   ``We are dealing with objects which weigh more than 20 tons and,
therefore, we approach such work sith special care,'' he said.
``Obviously, we were overzealous.''
   The cosmonauts began their mission Feb. 6, and Soviet media
announced in March the successful docking of a shuttle craft
carrying food, fuel, water and equipment.
   No program for the rest of the space flight has been announced.
   Soviet space ships are known to have failed docking procedures
five other times.
    

    re .16
    
    Did they give any more info on the spaceplane? This years DoD review
    of Soviet Military Power predicts a launch late this year (but they
    have been doing that for a couple of years).
    
    gary

    The story I heard yesterday was that they had a successful manual
    dock, and that the module had been manned.  (I am either confused
    or mis-heard the report, or a local station is broadcasting to Johns.)
    
    Les
    

    On Radio Moscow a few minutes ago they said that the Mir Cosmonauts,
    during their "stint in raw space" (spacewalk, I presume) "eliminated
    the cause of the incomplete docking" between Mir and Kvant.  They
    discovered that there was "an alien object" in the docking collar,
    which they removed.  They then monitored the docking from outside,
    the first time such a thing has been done.
    
    Burns
    

Good news from the AP wire...

Associated Press Sun 12-APR-1987 19:08                           Soviet-Space

   Space Module Successfully Linked with Mir Station

   MOSCOW (AP) - Two cosmonauts working in space for nearly four
hours removed an ``alien object'' caught between the orbiting Mir
laboratory and a space module, allowing a firm linkup between the
two craft, Soviet media said Sunday.
   The object, which had prevented an airtight connection, appeared
to be a plastic bag, said the official Tass news agency.
   ``The object was removed,'' said Radio Moscow. ``On command from
ground control the two spacecraft were then docked into a single
complex.''
   The linkup ended a week of efforts by Soviet mission control to
dock the Kvant module, which is carrying important research
equipment, with the Mir.
   Cosmonauts Yuri Romanenko and Alexander Laveikin spent 3 hours
and 40 minutes outside the Mir, the Soviet media said. They left
the space station before midnight Saturday Moscow time to look for
the docking problem, according to the reports.
   Tass said the object was removed after the boom of the module's
docking unit was fully extended in order to move the two spacecraft
apart.
   The linkage apparently will allow the cosmonauts to move freely
between the Mir and the 11-ton Kvant, which contains a
new-generation space laboratory to be used by cosmonauts for a
variety of experiments, including biotechnology and astrophysics.
   Kvant is also carrying an orbital observatory and its own
life-support systems, radio, telephone and telegraph communications
systems and television equipment.
   Tass released part of the conversation between the cosmonauts
and the mission control center outside Moscow.
   According to Tass, Laveikin first noted the object lodged
between the two spacecraft.
   ``There is something that looks like a small white bag. I even
touched it with my hand,'' he reportedly said.
   ``Don't touch it,'' mission control responded, according to
Tass. ``Can it be your own bag?''
   ``If you move them (the spacecraft) from each other we will try
to bring it out,'' Laveikin said, Tass reported.
   A few minutes later, Romanenko reportedly said, ``Everything is
taken care of. The joint is cleared of the alien body. You can
begin pulling in.''
   ``Congratulations,'' mission control responded, according to
Tass. ``Get some rest.''
   The Kvant was launched March 31.
   On April 5 Kvant moved within 200 yards of the Mir but failed to
make contact due to ``irregular functioning of the control
system,'' Tass reported at the time.
   On Thursday, another docking attempt was made and the two
spacecraft made contact. But they did not become completely linked.
   Tass said the cosmonauts will conduct ``a large program of
experiments in the field of extra-atmospheric astronomy,'' using
the ``unique'' equipment in Kvant.
   Romanenko and Laveikin began their space mission Feb. 6. The
planned date of their return has not been announced.
    

    Presently the MIR complex is about 31 meters long and apx 50 tons
    KVANT has a 10 ton reentry unit, that will be use to send the results
    of the experiments home, with MIR becoming vissible in the early
    eve hours in Eastern US it should make for fantastic viewing
    especially if you get a chance to see the reentry module leave
    the complex
    
    the space walk was carried live on Soviet TV the allien obj
    was reported to be a twisted piece of cloth  (sorry ET)
    
    jb
    

    R. Moscow reports that the Mir astronauts have opened the hatch
    and entered Kvant, and found it clean.  It will be turned on over
    the next few days.
    
    RM said in the news that the obstruction was a 40x40 cm "sack".
    Later in a more in-depth discussion, they said it was a twisted
    piece of cloth.
    
    Another item which may answer some of IMNAUT::BIRO's questions said
    that an "auxiliary block" was separated from Kvant. Said block has
    engines which were used to bring the block close to Mir.  Removing
    the auxiliary block freed the second docking unit on the Kvant.
    
    Sounds to me like the rentry module was separated and is now
    stationkeeping (or possibly planning to dock in another of Mir's
    ports) until samples are to be brought down.
    
    Burns
    

    Ok on the info, some mysteries have been solved but KVANT
    has not stoped it now has a new one.  A few hours after the news
    of the link up the aux. block of KVANT seperated from the module
    at a command from earth.  This block has its own eng. and was commanded
    by FCC to bring the module closer to the station in orbit. Rich
    Ensign an AMSAT member has reported being able to see an obj.
    just in front of MIR but considerble dimmer - this could be the
    KVANT aux. block.
    
    now for the new mystery, KVANT has two docking ports, the second
    one is on the side of the seperated aux block and is design to receive
    cargo ferries
    
    I had though it was the return unit, but maybe it is the long 
    lost Amerikan SPACE-TUG  sorry NASA, but it makes sense, maybe
    this is how they will dock other modules to the star hub unit
    or maybe this is meant to be the remote xtal processing unit
    control unit, it has been found that the present of a human
    in processing semi-conductor incress the defects do to the 
    mass of the human moving around.  It has been estimated
    and I dont have the exact numbers but something like
    12kw of power can produce 250 million dollars of GAS xtal
    per year and that was 1983 or 84 dollars.
    
    Up to 5 more modules can dock with MIR, there will be a
    Technological Module for smelting and growing of xtals,
    another module to study the earth natural resources, and
    another for photo recon work.  When done the space lab
    will have a total sum weight of 135 tons.
                                                     
    john
    
    

Newsgroups: sci.space
Path: decwrl!decvax!ucbvax!LL-VLSI.ARPA!glenn
Subject: Soviet MIR/KVANT docking problem - a plastic bag.
Posted: 14 Apr 87 19:34:22 GMT
Organization: The ARPA Internet
 
   [This article is up-to-date, and not very big. - LK]
 
    The Soviets have announced what the "plastic alien object" was
that caused the problems in the docking of the 20 Tonne KVANT module
to the MIR space station (see my previous postings for more details on
the docking and the fix up space walk).  They describe it as a plastic
bag, some 17 cm by 14 cm in size.  They did not say where it came from
but it sounds like some one forgot to remove one of the plastic covers
from the docking mechanism before it was inserted into its launch
shroud.  On interesting point, I have heard from some one that at
least part of the space walk done to repair this problem was shown
live on Soviet TV (hourly reports were given on the short wave so that
is not so unbelievable).  It seems to me the same thing was done in
the SKYLAB 2 walk to open the solar panels.  As man works more in
space, more of these repair/rescues will occur. 

    Again the capability of humans to save expensive space equipment
has been shown.   I wish that some of the networks would have
broadcast part of this latest rescue on their news shows.  It might
help convince some of the robot only crowd that mankind is still the
most flexible system we can put in space. The Soviets have learned
that lesson well, it took them less than 2 days to look at the
situation, and plan a space walk to see if it could be fixed.  If the
KVANT/MIR docking had failed it would probably have set their program
back one or more years (as in the case of the SKYLAB rescue).  They
got several years more life out of the SALYUT 7 station the same way.
We need our own people up there to do the same thing. 
 
                                      Glenn Chapman
                                      MIT Lincoln Lab

    Since KVANT has docked with MIR I have been receiving PWM
    signals on 166.1625 MHz that are very strong and are received
    at the same time MIR is in radio range, the signals last for
    about 2 min and then are turn off before actual LOS from my
    location near Boston Mass
    

    re .26:  Shades of Gemini 6!  (Speaking of which, if that happened
    today, would the Gemini 7/6 rendezvous ever have happened?)

    re .27:  Obviously, they heard you listening :-)
    
    Burns
    

    -< Watch For KVANT in front of MIR >-

    KVANT has been spotted by several people, but  here in New
    England it has been either raining or cloudily when MIR/KVANT is
    visible. Look for any orbits after sunset till 9:30 pm local time
    after that MIR/KVANT will be in the earth shadow. This is a separate
    unit form the astrophysic module, it separated about 2 hours after
    the successful linkup.
    
    international obj 87-030a NASA obj # 17845 KVANT
    
    KVANT has the following orbit vs MIR's 
    S.M.A.  =  6731.2491  vs MIR's  6731.600 KM
    apoggee =   361.848   vs MIR's   363.273 KM
    perigee =   345.096   vs MIR's   343.607 KM
    
    KVANT leads MIR and is apx 11 tons and has a docking port.
    It is not as bright as MIR but can easily be seen by the
    naked eye as a separate dimmer object.                   
    
    I have not seen any official explanation of what KVANT AUX BLOCK
    will do, but the most likely would be a semiconductor processing 
    unit or a space tug for  a semi processing plant.   I f this is 
    true , then the Russians are now out of the prototype stage and 
    into true productions of space grown xtals.
    
    john
    
                                                          
    

    re .29:  Aviation Week implied that the auxiliary block was nothing
    more than a propulsion module that was used to move Kvant around
    before it was docked.  Of course, this does not explain why they
    are keeping the aux block hanging around instead of deorbiting it.
    Might it not be just a ferry for sample returns?
    
    John, when you are talking about KVANT in .29 (i.e. KVANT leads
    MIR and is apx 11 tons and has a docking port...) are you talking
    about the aux module?  If so, perhaps the docking port was just
    there to connect to the part of KVANT that is now hooked to MIR,
    rather than indicating that it might be docked with again?
    
    Burns
    

    It was expected that KVANT would be use return the xtal samples
    photos log books etc but consider the following
    
    the docking port on KVANT was descirbe by Radio Moscow as being
    on its side and design to accept docking of other ferries. So
    the idea of a simple propulsion/sample return ferry does not
    seem to fit.  Why a docking port on its side, and why is it going
    to accept other ferries.  It volumn is much larger then needed 
    to return present samples back to earth.
    
    Radio Moscow has announce that they would have a detacthed
    semiconductor module.  It has not said this is it or part of
    it. The reason given is that the mass of a human walking around
    is enought to cause undesirable effects on the xtal being made
    thus it is better to do it away from the space station under 
    computer control and return the samples when done
    
    jb
    
    

    re .31:  Sorry, I am still confused by your terminology.  Are you
    now calling the disconnected thing KVANT?  I understood that KVANT
    was the thing that has now docked with MIR.
    
    In any case, what I heard on Radio Moscow talked about all the fancy
    docking ports et al being on KVANT, which I took to mean the part
    hooked to MIR. What they said about the auxiliary module was that it
    had disconnected from KVANT to free the docking port and had moved into
    a nearby orbit using its on-board propulsion.
    
    Interesting.  Is RM still talking about MIR/KVANT on their news
    broadcasts?  I have not listened since last week when all the hairy
    problems were going on.
    
    Burns
     

Fascinating, about them growing crystals.  I was quite surprised
to learn that the mass of a human is enough to disturb the
process.  Just how important is it that the crystals be perfect;
I mean, are space-grown crystals that much of an advantage over
earth-grown?  And those grown remotely better than those grown in
the station?

I would think that our govt would be very interested in not
loosing the advantage in space crystals to the USSR, if there is
that much difference.

    re .31, .32
    
    I think KVANT generally refers to the module now docked with Mir.
    The 'service module' that was used to bring KVANT to Mir should
    be called something else to avoid confusing discussions such as
    the current one.
    
    It may just be that they are playing safe with the rear docking port so
    they can be sure of successfully docking a Progress to it. If the
    'KVANT service module' is indeed the return module as well, they could
    redock it when necessary. 
    
    re .33
    
    Both the US and USSR have been spending a lot of effort in growing
    perfect crystals in microgravity for semiconductor use. The Soviets
    conducted a series of experiments remotely on Salyut 7 after the
    penultimate crew left it. Retrieving the results may have been a
    task for the first Mir crew when they visited Salyut 7. I forget
    what they were growing but they did announce that they were getting
    yields suitable for commercial use.
    
    gary

    Progress 29 was lanch on Tuesday for a Thur docking to KVANT
    This will be the first time the Progress unit will dock with
    the new KVANT/MIR/SOYUZ-TM2 complex
    
    What is a KVANT?
    I am not sure if KVANT is the whole or part of the unit,
    but indivisual pieces have been called 
    Astrophysical Lab Module
    KVANT AUX BLOCK
    
    by calling the it an aux block of KVANT I would assume that
    KVANT reffers to the whole unit which is made up of at least
    three major units, Astrophysical Module, AUX BLOCK, Progress
    docking unit.
    
    jb
    .
    

    Well that at least explains why they seperated the aux block when
    they did. No point in launching the Progress unless you know you
    have a docking port available.
    
    If the aux block has any other function, and the only one I think
    is reasonable is sample return to earth, they can probably leave
    it in a station keeping orbit near the Mir complex for some time.
    
    gary

-< P-29 docks OK >-

    the progress 29 docking went OK, it brought up fuel,food and
    supplies, the normal RM description with one exception the 
    supplies were for a long duration stay and they have been 
    given the go for many months.  The original plan was for 9
    months.  So the MIR complex is now made up of 4 units 
    SOYUZ-TM2/MIR/KVANT_ASTROPHYSICAL_MODULE/PROGRESS-29

    I would put the launch of P-29 on the 21st of APR at 14:43 UTC
    then the docking would happen apx 50 hours latter.  If anyone
    see the actual launch time let me know
    
    Other RM space related news, in Science and Eng they talk
    about building there reusable space plane and that the runways
    were already completed and if the US Space Shuttle needed to use
    the Runways in and Emergency they could.  They promise that an upcoming
    Science and Eng show would have more on the Astrophysical Unit.
    
    

    Activity for this month, include two space walks to install
    more solar panels for power for the KVANT Astrophysical Module.
    RM did not say if the panels were to be install on MIR or on
    KVANT unit.  The Kvant unit has Solar panels but I would have
    expected that they could be deployed from inside the module,
    MIR has provision for aux solar panels at 90 degrees from
    present one.
    
    The KVANT_AUX_BLOCK is still flying shortgun with MIR complex
    which is now 4 section long.
    PROGRESS-29/KVANT-ASTROPHYSICAL-LAB/MIR/SOYUZ-TM-2
    The offical opening of the Astrophysical Lab will be in June.
    
    active freq form MIR complex are
    143.625 WBFM voice 
    166.130 WBFM PWM data link
                                    
    In the mean time the cammers are taking pic. of Asia and
    the crew is having  another medical check up
                               
    73's john
    

    TASS has announce that the space walk to install the solar
    panels has been put off.  Orignally the solar panels were to
    have been installed before Porgess-29 was launch.  This would
    allow the cosmosnauts to take equipment (solar panels) out the
    rear end of Kvant, Now however, they must got out the docking
    ball and do not think they can get two man and equipment in
    the ball.   They may try opening up the TM2 unit to allow 
    a larger working/storage area.  This would allow the crew
    and the equipment to be in the same area and then seal off
    the docking ball form MIR and the TM2 decent unit.
    
    RM said the crew was busy unloading Progress-29 so another
    option would be unload P-29 and jetterson it an go back
    to the orignal idea of exiting from the rear port.
    
    jb
    

    BTW, Aviation Week referred to what we (and RM) have been calling
    the auxiliary block as the propulsion module.  Any chance it is
    a prototype space tug (which they shared with KVANT)?
    
    Burns

    a space tug is a good guess, others are a semiconductor processing
    lab or material processing lab
    
    it does not look like it can reentry, ie no shields  - not enought
    mass etc
    
    also RM announce that a cargo ship can dock with it
    this would mean that it needs to be resupplied or it
    is a tug or both. I guess that it is about 11 tons.
    Recent picutres of the KVANT docking rescue are cut off so 
    one can not get a good view of the AUX BLOCK. It was docked
    on the KVANT ASTROPHYSICAL MODULE so it would seem that it
    also can dock to other units including Salyut-7
    jb
    

     date    from
    MAY  11  TASS 
    the following info extracedex
    
                	The unmanned space freighter Progess-29 at 7 hours
			10 min Moscow time departed form the orbiting MIR
			complex.  After decelleration made it take a decent
			trajectory, the craft entered the dense layers of 
			the Atmosphere and ceased its existence.
			Cosmonnauts Yuri Romanenko and Alexander Laveikin,
			meanwhile are continuing work aboard the research 
			complex MIR.  Their program includes schedules 
			maintenance operatons and another series of 
			Geophysical Experiments.  According to telemetry data
			and the Cosmonauts' reports from orbit the flight
			is proceeding normally.

    
    this will free up the rear docking port , thus the instalation of
    the new solar panels can take place as planded.
    
    

"Ceased its existence", how quaint!  Did they burn it up on
purpose?   The message gives no clue.

    Typically, Progresses are intentionally deorbited and allowed to
    burn up.  Tass and Radio Moscow often have these little turns-of-phrase
    which allows you to realize that they are really not they really read
    and written by the gal next door.
    
    The first time I listened to RM, there was a letter reading show
    on.  The woman reading the letters spoke in perfect unaccented
    English until she came to a letter from someone in
    
    	Worcester, Massachusetts.
    
    Boy did she mangle that one!
    
    Burns
    

    	The Soviets are also smart enough to have controls on their
    space stations to have them re-enter over the Pacific Ocean, unlike
    a certain American one-time space station a few years back...
    
    	Larry
    

    yes the TASS wording was very strange but not unusual
    what was unusual was the fact that P-29 was deorbited
    the same day as it was undocked, that was only done
    once before.  the Progess units are  allow to
    have two to four days life after undocking, they test
    controls or what ever they do.  this could mean that the
    P-29 had little fuel left or had a malfunction.
    
    As for deorbiting over the pacific, that is the normal
    but just a few back P-27 or P-28 was seen deorbiting all
    the was to the Middle USA states.  The have had a good record
    however deorbiting any only a few have made it over the
    west coast of the USA.                         
    
    This now allow the Crew to exit the back door and install 
    Aux Solar Panels on MIR (not KVANT as had beed said before)
    MIR has provision for two Aux Solar panels 90 deg for the
    present ones.
    
    RM announced that they are about ready to test 
    a new multi stage rocket that can launch a space plane
    This was part of Gorbachev speech at the Soviet space Center
    on Wednesday about the country must shake a technological
    "inferiority Complex"  what he saw at Baikonur Cosmodrome
    with the sophisticated Soviet-made launch structures, laboratories
    and spacecraft convinced him there's no need for the Soviet Union
    to look to other countries for technological advancemaents.
    There was renew commitment for the space program
    
    
    

    Progress-30 lauch today 19-May with new supplies for MIR
    if this keeps up you can expect to see a new Progress unit
    every 30 days and launch on Tuesday of that week
    
    The laucnch however seems to me a little early and still not word on the 
    instalation of the new solar panels except that they
    will be mounted on MIR not KVANT
                                                                          
    jb
    
    

    re .43
    
    Although the Progress vehicles are based on the Soyuz, they do not
    have a reentry module. They are deorbited at the end of their mission
    to intentionally burn up during reentry. Bringing it down early
    suggests that it may have been low on propellant. The KVANT docking
    almost certainly used more propellant than planned.
    
    gary

    Can't pass a Gas Station without filling up 
    
    The drag of the KVANT/MIR complex is very high, I wonder if
    they will keep up the once a month Progress vehicles. It has
    gone from apx .0001/.00001 to .0004 (1st derivitive)
    
    This would put the next launch on the 16 or 23 of June as most of the
    Progress for this stay in MIR   have been launched  on Tuesday
                              
    then again they could raise the orbit to degrees the drag, if 
    they start adding on to  the docking ball refueling could be a 
    full time job
    
    jb
    
                                        

    RM annouce over the weekend that the Crew of MIR had conducted
    about a 2 hour EVA to install the first section of Solar Cells
    and that a second space walk would be conducted in a few days
    to but the second half up and connect it up.  This power will 
    be needed for the aditional requirement to run KVANT Astrophysical
    Lab.
    
    my notes:  Seems that they have decided to break the panel in
    half, they were haveing a problem trying to get the panel out
    of the docking ball, so by doing it in two pieces this would
    not be a problem  This is my idea and was not reported as shuch
    jb