1991 December 5 - .

    Mir News 115: Mir solar panel damaged by space debris. - . Nation:
Russia. Program: Mir. Flight: Soyuz TM-12 Mir LD-3, Soyuz TM-13.

    On 4 Dec. 1991 during pass in orb. 33171 (1103 UTC) Volkov spoke
with a Pyotr (might have been Klimuk) about the Ukraine. Volkov made a
passing reference to the fact that the crew discovered 2 small holes In
one of the solar panels of Module-D. About this damage the cosmonauts
spoke during the first 3 passes on 5 Dec. 1991. They made images with a
TV camera, but these were not good enough for analyses. To get better
images the cosmonauts had to install a special camera in the transition
section (P.Kh.O.) and therefor they had to deploy and connect a cable.
In Krikalyov's opinion the only way to get a good insight in the damage
a space-walk (EVA) will be necessary. On 5 Dec. they spoke about 2 great
holes and 1 small hole. Krikalyov even uttered the possibility that the
damage has been arisen during the period in which the American Space
shuttle 44, Atlantis, had to alter course to avoid a collision with the
3rd of a Soviet rocket launched long ago. So again a substantial problem
for the cosmonauts. For a long time the crew are struggling with the
water regeneration system Elektron and the attitude control of the
complex.

    During the last days Mir almost permanently remained in sunlight and
for the orientation of the sensors they used sun-vectors.

    DIVERTING CAPABILITIES OF THE Mir-COMPLEX IN CASE OF 'COLLISION DANGER' :

    In comparison with the American (and Soviet-) Space Shuttles the
Mir-station is a 'lame duck '. Even if Norad (or its Soviet opposite
side) would warn Mir and TsuP for an object on collision course a quick
diverting manoeuvre cannot be executed (within a few minutes). With the
engines of the freighter Progress-M and the ferry Soyuz-TM the altitude
of the complex can be altered, but this process lasts too long for
comfort. The present crew consist of phlegmatic and crisis proof
cosmonauts and they seem not to bother about this all. During radio
amateur conversations they state that all is going well.

    1ST STAGE ENERGIYA ROCKET BLOWN UP DURING FIRE TEST:

    This news comes from a radiologist in Omsk, N. Spinov. S., also a
member of the State Committee for Ecology, reported that on 20 November
1991 near the village Krutaya Gorkia (55 KM from the Siberian town Omsk)
the 1st stage of the Energiya rocket exploded due to a failure in the
cooling system. In a huge orange cloud the heath of the explosion
dispersed and S. demands a detailed investigation for during the last
years the number op persons suffering of cancer alarmingly increased.

    (The 1st stage of the Energiya consists of 4 'strap on' boosters,
each of which is a modified version of the 1st stage of the Zenith
(SL-16) rocket. Fuel is kerosene, oxidiser LOX).

    Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202