Shuttle, Soyuz, Progress, and Mir

Philip Chien (kc4yer@amsat.org)
Tue, 27 Jan 1998 16:52:29 -0400

With all of the various docking and undocking juggling operations there are
going to be some incredible viewing opportunities of the shuttle, Mir and
associated vehicles - assuming as always that the weather cooperates.

Vladimir Agapov provided the Russian timelines, the shuttle landing time
and updated shuttle undocking time comes from NASA

1) Jan 29 16:33:40 UTC  launch of Soyuz TM-27

2) Jan 29 16:56         undocking of Shuttle from Mir

3) Jan 30 12:53:30      undocking of Progress M-37 from Mir

4) Jan 31 18:08         docking of Soyuz TM-27 to Mir

5) Jan 31 22:36         shuttle landing (planned)

6) Feb 01               Progress M-37 deorbit burn


So from 1 to 2 there will be two objects in Mir's orbtial plane -
Shuttle-Mir and Soyuz.

>From 2 to 3 there will be three objects - Shuttle, Mir, Soyuz

>From 3 to 4 there will be four objects - Shuttle, Mir, Soyuz, Progress

>From 4 to 5 there will be three objects - Shuttle, Mir-Soyuz, Progress

>From 5 to 6 there will be two objects - Mir-Soyuz, Progress

After six the only object will be Mir-Soyuz

I know it goes without saying, but I'm going to say it anyway - After the
shuttle departs from Mir it's coming home.  So it's going to go in to a
LOWER orbit.  And lower orbits are 'faster' - so when you see the two
objects after they separate the shuttle will be the LEADING object.

I've got pretty good passes at 1/30 00:25 and 1/30 23:26.  Any bets on to
whether or not the weather's going to cooperate?



Philip Chien [M1959.05.31/31.145//KC4YER@amsat.org]