Jonathan's Space Report Aug 7 1990 (no.47) ---------------------------------------------------- Soyuz TM-10 docked with Mir on Aug 3. The new crew, Manakov and Strekalov, have taken over the station. The Soyuz TM-9 crew, Solov'yov and Balandin, are preparing to return to Earth. (From the Soviet Embassy Information Desk here in DC) (I don't write 'em, I just upload 'em) What Happened in Orbit, or How Minor Trouble Developed Into Major Setback By Mikhail Chernyshov It all began with thermal insulation slightly peeling off the Soyuz TM-9 transport spacecraft. The abnormality, in the view of the ground controllers, was so insignificant that it could be ignored. Upon some reflection, however, it was decided to roll it back. Cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyov and Alexander Balandin, during a spacewalk, fastened it back, but had to face fresh problems. First, a metal ladder they used was left dangerously close to the docking unit and second, the exit hatch on the Kvant-2 module refused to close. Fortunately, the orbital complex is built on about the same principle as the submarine. A faulty compartment can be isolated. The cosmonauts did precisely this, using the next box [sic] as an airlock. Though there was no immediate threat to the complex, Solovyov and Balandin were faced with the need for a second spacewalk to remedy the situation. In the afternoon of 26 July, the cosmonauts started their repairs. They first addressed themselves to the hatch, a metal cover one meter in diameter, which would not close. A detailed inspection revealed that once of the hatch hinges had been bent. By means of a TV camera the cosmonauts showed the damaged part to specialists at the ground control center. While specialists conferred, the cosmonauts were told to remove the ladder. Clearly, in situations like that, assessments may vary and been directly opposite, but in this case no discrepancies were voiced. "I would not dramatize the events," Vladimir Shatalov, chief of the cosmonaut training center said in a short interview. "Even if the hatch cannot be closed, let us leave the compartment the way it is until the new crew arrive and then decide what to do. The orbital complex is in workable condition, and that's what matters most." In about the same vein were comments by Victor Blagov, deputy flight director. He stressed, though, that he was more concerned over the ladder. "During the first spacewalk on 17 July, the cosmonauts fixed it too close to the docking unit. After they left, the ropes got loose, and the ladder is slightly unhinged [sic!], which might hinder a second transport ship from docking. It is possible to push the ladder away, letting it float freely. But it might be needed for further work. The optimum option is therefore to move it from the docking unit as far as possible and fasten it tightly to the craft's side." [Question] "How does the control center assess the condition of the Soyuz TM-9 ship? Will the crew be able to get back to Earth from orbit?" [Answer] "If the situation with Soyuz TM-9 caused apprehensions," Blagov replied calmly "We would have begun repairs on the ship. That's a clear as day. You all have a schedule of work. It does not include any ship repairs." [Question] "What can have caused the hatch fault? The previous crew consisting of cosmonauts Alexander Victorenko and Alexander Serebrov twice used the hatch to emerge outside when testing the flying chair, and hatch operated normally. How can that be?" [Answer] "One of the causes," Blagov offered his version, "May have been that before the hatch was opened during their first spacewalk, that is on 17 July, Solovyov and Balandin did not evacuate all the air from the airlock. This resulted in the cover opening too quickly." The same reason is cited by Ivan Vostrokov, deputy general designer of the Salyut design office. "Normally," he explained, "the hatch is opened in two states. The air from the airlock is difficult to evacuate fully, there is always some pressure remaining. So by means of a wheel cosmonauts first set the hatch slightly ajar, with the remaining air escaping from the lock chamber within several dozen seconds. All this time the cover is held tight by a special catch. It is only when the pressure in the chamber drops to zero, that is equalizes the outside pressure, that the cover can be allowed to open fully. The cosmonauts must have released the catch too early. The air pressure had a force of 400 kilograms. It was that force that pushed the hatch open. And although there is a special restraining arm the hinge was bent." For more than three hours Solovyov and Balandin worked in open space. On the whole, the two missions of the second spacewalk were accomplished: they moved the ladder to a new place and fastened it, the hatch was closed, if with a certain difficulty. The Kvant-2 airlock is not air-tight, but the hinge problem remains. The Kvant-2 airlock is, besides, a kind of garage for the flying chair. This "minitaxi" fueled by compressed air serves to move cosmonauts in open space. No chair practice was planned for now, but the chair may be required in the future. "In principle," noted Gai Severin, chair designer, "The chair could be prepared for operation in a depressurised compartment, but that is not standard." The flight control center, meanwhile, is summing up the preliminary results of the sixth expedition. It was expected that it would yield about 25 million roubles in profits, but it looks as though the expedition will break even, with expenses and receipts being equal. Nonetheless, the center is glad it has carried out an extensive program of nature survey. The cameras photographed 21 million square kilometers of territory, with a picture resolution of five to seven meters. Such photographs are particularly valuable for the economy and ecological monitoring. All four furnaces on the Kristall module worked for a series of technological experiments and produced dozens of samples of crystals, although it is of course too early to speak of pilot-scale or even experimental production. This is a job for the seventh expedition. Other planned work in biotechnology, astrophysics, and also technical experiments were all carried through. The center is concerned that the amount of material is growing all the time, while in a normal Soyuz craft the crew can take with them not more than 50 kg. of cargo. A descent capsule has been developed on the Progress basis, which will take parcels weighing up to 90 kg from Mir to Earth. --APN Mir complex current configuration: (docking port numbers are my own arbitrary assignments; they are in order of use.) Mir port 1: Soyuz TM-9 Mir port 2: Kvant (port 1) Mir port 3: Kvant-2 (port 1) Mir port 4: Kristall (port 1) Mir port 5: (vacant) Mir port 6: (vacant) Kvant port 2: Soyuz TM-10 Kvant-2 SPK port: SPK maneuvring unit? Kristall port 2+: (vacant) ___ / 2 \ \ \000/ -) ZDADAD? /| / \ | 3 3 | 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 | /Kristall \ ______ _____________ | \0 0/ 3\_____ __ _3 \ 3 \|___\01000/ __ _____/3 3TM103 \/ \3 Kvant 33 Mir \/4- \ / \/ 3TM9 3 3000030/\00/302 1332 ____ 1 3\00/\0300003 3/ 300000/ 300000000000000000/\300/ \3 @DDDDY 3111111111110/ _/DDDDD\_ / 1 \ \0Kvant-20/ 3 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 | 3 SPK 3 3 []3 3 \00000/ CDDDDD4 (c) 1990 Jonathan McDowell - modified by C. Radley