NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 16, 2001--According to news reports, two Russian space agencies have agreed that March 6 will be D-Day for the Mir space station--"Deorbiting Day" that is.
The Russian space station has had Amateur Radio gear aboard. Over the years, countless hams on Earth have spoken directly with the crew--which, at times, has included US astronauts--or have accessed Mir's packet messaging system. Pictures transmitted via an SSTV experiment installed aboard Mir a few years ago also delighted earthbound amateurs.
While the ham gear was installed in part to help boost crew morale, it became a vital communication link after a nearly disastrous fire broke out and when--not long after--the space station's hull was pierced in a collision with a cargo rocket.
The February 24, 1997, fire broke out while ham-astronaut Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, was aboard Mir. Linenger, a physician, reported via Amateur Radio that no injuries had occurred and all crew members were in good health in the wake of the fire in the Kvant 1 module. US astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAD, was part of the Mir crew when, a few months after the fire on June 25, 1997, a Progress rocket collided with the Spektr module. He also used ham radio to update reports of efforts to stabilize the station during the near-decompression. Mir also was plagued by a series of computer breakdowns that, at times, left the station running at reduced power and drifting in space.
 The last Mir crew to regularly use Amateur Radio from the Russian space station waves good-bye in this 1999 SSTV picture from Farrell Winder, W8ZCF. At the left is visiting ESA astronaut Jean-Pierre Haignere, FX0STB, of France. |
Last April, cosmonauts Sergei Zalyotin and Alexander Kaleri, U8MIR, visited Mir to close down the station and switch the flight control systems away from the onboard computer. The orbiter also was raised to an operational orbit of 375 to 390 km. Amateur Radio activity aboard the station was limited during that last mission.
The more than 130-ton spacecraft will be pushed out of Earth orbit using Progress rockets. According to the Russian Aviation and Space Agency--Rosaviacosmos--and RKK Energia--Mir's operator--a Progress cargo ship with increased fuel capacity will be launched to Mir January 18. The following day, a Progress cargo ship that's already at the space station will undock from the outpost for a January 23 deorbit.
The second Progress--which is heavily loaded with fuel for the deorbiting missions--will reach Mir in four days, docking on January 22. In the event of docking problems, however, Russia is prepared to send up an emergency cosmonaut crew to complete the job.
Mir's attitude control system will be disabled. Then, on March 4 and 5, the Progress will fire its engines and brake the station's orbital velocity. On March 6, the Progress will deliver the killer blow, firing to decrease Mir's velocity to the point where it will drop out of orbit. What's left of the space station after it passes through Earth's atmosphere will plunge into the Pacific later that day.
It's expected that the scuttling of Mir will generate a shower of debris that could reach Earth's surface.
Over the years, Mir has become a fixture in orbit and the focal point of pride for the Russian space program. The initial module of the space station was launched February 20, 1986.
Recently, the Russian government confirmed its intention to continue its cooperation with the US, Canada, ESA, and Japan in the development of the International Space Station.--Roy Neal, K6DUE, and AMSAT News Service contributed information for this report
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