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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 2116.PDF
Mir as it could look in 1991, once all of the dedicated modules have been launched and attached to the core station spacewalks. During the cosmonaut's construction work in June, this airlock proved to be rather small. The Soviets may therefore soon launch a large airlock module—or a module with a large airlock. The workstation comprises two areas. Nearer to the transfer compartment is a narrower area containing the central control computer and experiment facili ties. Further back are the wider living quarters. This "central command post" is the hub of the station, and comprises eight computers which control the craft's func tions. Computers operate all systems and assemblies, data displays, flightpath and attitude control, orbital manoeuvres, and rendezvous of visiting craft. The computer system also aligns the Mir complex so that modules such as Kvant and the forth coming remote-sensing module are pointed correctly at their targets. The core vehicle has been the scene of a surprising number of widely and varied experiments using equipment such as the Korund crystalliser, designed to produce ultra-pure semiconductors and alloys. The core vehicle is rather spartan, despite having luxuries such as videos, hot water, and Moldavia sauce. The decor, of pastel shades, has been chosen by psycho logists. There is a "ceiling" and "floor". A running track and a foldable ergometer are situated in an exercise area, which is the scene of two hours of strenuous work each day, to ward off the ill-effects of zero g. A hot plate is used to heat food which, despite zero g, is eaten at a table with chairs. The crew choose what they eat, provided they consume the required number of daily calories. There is no shower on board, the crew using wet wipes, but there is a face and hand washing facil ity which consists of a transparent hood with water fountain inside. There are only two wardrooms, equipped like those of a submarine, the cosmonaut having a sleep ing bag, a desk, and a chair. The crew have books, videos, and sound tapes, and each week enjoy a two-way TV family linkup. They play "sounds of the Earth": bird- song, wind, sea, and other familiar noises. Mir's service propulsion system contains the main orbital manoeuvring engines, propellant, air tanks, and other equipment. The engines, powered by hypergolic nitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine propellants, have a thrust of 205kg. Additionally, orbital manoeuvring is often carried out by docked Progress tankers. The module also has 32 reaction- control thrusters, each producing 13-6kg thrust. Lithium hydroxide filters clean the recirculated compressed air at Earth surface pressure. Temperatures inside the station are maintained at between 18°C and 28°C, and relative humidity is main tained at between 30 and 70 per cent. Mir's radio complex provides continuous voice and data commu nications for the crew, and science and control systems to the Kaliningrad mission control centre near Moscow. This is accomplished via a global network of about a dozen tracking ships and seven tracking stations inside the Soviet Union, which give live coverage for 20min during each 90min orbit. Communication is also accomplished via Luch and SDRN data relay satellites. The first SDRN to be used operationally was Cosmos 1700, which drifted out of its geosynchronous orbit slot in 1987. A replacement is thought to have failed to reach orbit when a Proton malfunctioned this year. Crews fly to Mir in the Soyuz TM, the seventh version of a manned spacecraft that first flew in April 1967. Weighing about 6-8 tonnes, the 6-97m-long craft has a spherical orbital module equipped with a docking probe which acts as living quarters, a transfer compartment, and an equipment bay during spacewalks. The module is jettisoned before re-entry, presenting the possibility that it could be left attached to Mir. Beneath the Soyuz TM orbital module is the crew ascent/descent module, which resembles an inverted cup, to generate lift during re-entry and reduce deceleration forces to a tolerable 3g to 4g. Lighter recovery parachutes and a lighter launch escape system on the SL-4 booster enable Soyuz TM to be launched with 200kg more cargo and to return home with 150kg more. An instrument section behind this has two solar panels with a span of 10-6m. Soyuz TM has uprated primary and backup propulsion, with a thrust of about 400kg, which also feeds the attitude- control system. Soyuz TM has a new avionic system, called Kurs, which allows more reliable automatic dockings. It is the Soyuz, not Mir, that now makes the moves during docking. The ferry can manoeuvre and approach Mir at any angle, a facility that will become vital when the complex is completed. Soyuz is launched on the workhorse SL-4 booster, the first stage of which first flew as a missile 30 years ago. The launch escape system has been used once, to save Soyuz T10 in 1983, when the SL-4 booster caught fire on the pad. The Soyuz, minus its instrument section, was hauled away and stabilised. The descent craft dropped away at 1,000m and its quick-opening backup parachute carried the two crew to safety about 4km from the flaming launch pad. Supplies are the lifeblood of the Mir complex. Equipment, water, air, and propellants must all be replenished. The Progress tankers bring 2,300kg of cargo. These are based on Soyuz, but without the descent craft, which is replaced by a module holding water, air, and fuel tanks. Progress does not have any solar panels, but is powered by batteries. Eight such craft have been launched to Mir. Progress has the added function of orbiting trash can. It is loaded with rubbish and effluent which are incinerated with the vehicle during an uncontrolled re-entry. A new type of Progress was tested under the guise of Cosmos 1669 on a mission to Salyut 7, and was equipped with solar panels. The Soviets have also mentioned that a recoverable version of the tanker may be under development, but ;w FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 17 October 1987
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