MIRNEWS.261        5 JUNE 1995

5th Spacewalk (EVA) MIR-crew:

On 1.06.1995 (for Moscow time already 2.06.1995) from 2204-
2229UTC the MIR-crew made a short EVA inside the vacuumized
transitionsection (P.Kh.O.). During this EVA they replaced the
dockingcone from the -Z to the -Y axis. 

Redocking Spektr (Module-O):

This operation was executed quickly and successfully (so also
the 'Lyappa' of Spektr is reliable) on 2.06.95 from 1952-
2150UTC (so the closing of the hatch already on 3.06.95 Moscow
time). The Spektr has been moved from the -X axis (axial
forward port of MIR) to the -Y axis. So the forward port is
now available to receive the Kristall (Module-T). 
 
Redocking of Kristall put back:

This operation was on schedule for the night from 6 to
7.06.1995 but has been postponed to the period from 15.06 -
18.06.1995. The Russians said that this was necessary due to
activities with a higher priority. It might be possible that
this has something to do with the airseal problems arised
after the redocking of Kristall in the night from 29 to
30.05.1995. That night during the pass in orbit 53012 Dezhurov
reported a dropping pressure in Kristall or the transition
section (P.Kh.O.). This might be caused by a minor leakage in
the joint between Kristall and the P.Kh.O. After 1 hr and 8
minutes the pressure dropped from abt 700 mm to 469 mm.   
Whether this problem has caused the postponement of the redoc
king of Kristall has not been confirmed thusfar. That there is
a problem with the airpressure has been confirmed officially.
Spokesmen also stated that extra oxygen en nitrogen has to be
delivered to the complex to replenish the loss of air during
the recent EVA-s. 

Thagard injured his eye: Not all what is written in my logbook
reaches my reports. Already on 19.05.1995 Thagard reported
that he injured his right eye during an 'experiment with an
expander'. During the days there after Thagard regularly
complained about his eye and TsUP advised him which medicines
he had to swallow. Meanwhile the eye seems to be recovered for
when there is question about this problem Thagard and his
colleagues say that all is normal. I did refrain from publis
hing about this medical 'secret' due to an official request. 
Recently this ban has been lifted by the Head of the Russian
Space Agency, Koptev, who told Itar-Tass that Thagard had been
struck at his head above his right eye by a spring which got
loose from an expander during physical training. 

Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.