MIRNEWS.191          8 OCTOBER 1993

PROGRESS-M17:  This freighter undocked from MIR after the launch
of Progress-M19 on 10.08.93. (So this happened not to be the Pr-
M18. Pr-M18 disappeared earlier, i.e. just after the Rodeo-
experiment. (Undocking of Pr-M18  under observation of the appr-
oaching Soyuz-TM17 which had to dock to the docking- port freed
by Pr-M18). While Pr-M19 was flying to MIR Pr-M17 undocked and
remained in space. The autonomous flight of this freighter will
have a duration of 1 or 1.5 year. This on request of the
Americans, who plan to use modified Soyuz-M-ships as ACVR-s
(assured crew rescue vehicle) for their spacestations. They wish
to know the maximum lifetime of a S-TM. Most of the systems of
both vehicles are equal and so Pr-M17 is now playing the role as
a test-vehicle. Pr-M17 is flying a dozen kilometers lower than
MIR.  


MIR-operations:

The still attached to MIR Progress-M19 corrected the orbit of the
complex. MIR was lifted from ap/per 390.7/384.8 KM to ap/per
397.4/389.2 KM. So Keplers older than day 278 are invalid. 
The crew still has to spend a lot of time to keep the lifesystems
of the complex operational, especially the waterregenerations
systems cause a lot of trouble. 
On 7 Oct. 1993 during their first contact with TsUP (in orb.
43660, 0535-0546UTC) they heard that the launch of the Soyuz-TM18
with the relief crew had been put back until the 2d half of
December 1993 (instead of 24.11.93), which means a prolongation
of their flight. The delay is caused by a complex of reasons, one
of them has something to do with the carrier-rocket for S-TM18's
launch. Serebrov stated that he and Tsibliyev understand this
decision and that they, though reluctantly, agreed to remain
longer in space. They asked TsUP to inform Yuriy Semyonov (Head
of NPO Energiya) about their consent.   


PROGRESS-M19: The crew is preparing this freighter for her 
imminent departure. Main task is the loading and servicing of the
VBK (ballistic return capsule) of Pr-M19. Pr-M19 will undock from
MIR after the eventual successful launch of the freigher
Progress-M20.

PROGRESS-M20: Launch still on schedule for 11.10.93, 2133UTC (so
for TsUP already on 12.10.93, 0033 Msc Winter Time) from
Baykonur. Rendez-vous and docking with MIR in the late evening
of 13.10.93 (UTC). 

4th Spacewalk (EVA): This EVA will be carried out after the
arrival of Pr-M20. The most convenient day for this EVA will
probably be 28.10.93. 
             
Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202