ISSCOM.021
On 17.10.01 the crew of ISS thoroughly examined the systems of that ship due to the planned for 19.10.01 re-docking from the aft Zvezda docking port to the Pirs (SO-2) docking compartment
(nadir port Zvezda). During the pass within range of the Netherlands in orbit 16618, 1422-1428UTC, the crew tested the cannels 121.750 and 130.165 mc.
The signals on 121.750 mc were loud and clear, those on 130.165 mc not too good due to cross modulation interferences caused by air traffic control centres in Western Europa. During the tests of
the S-TM32 communications the transmitter of 143.625 mc in the ISS was active, but the transmissions were fully blocked by the cross modulation. TsUP and the crew agreed upon the use of
121.750 and 130.165 mc during the re-docking operation.
On 19.10.01 the re-docking was executed when the ISS and the ship were still out of range of the Netherlands. After the re-docking and the return of the crew in the Pirs and the air lock of Zvezda, air
pressures and the equalisation of the pressures were discussed. The interference of the air traffic channels was very strong on 130.165 and 143.625 mc. Tyurin said this also troubled the cosmonauts
and that he understood that TsUP-M was about to configure the communications. He also spoke about communications with TsUP-H.
TsUP reported that they would use Regul during the next communication session at 1540UTC. Before that they had to activate Winfac (phonetic), sharp listening for traffic via a (as far as I know)
Regul downlink frequency, 922.760mc gave no results.
Start Soyuz-TM33: The launch was executed flawlessly on 21.10.01 at 08.59.35UTC. The crew consists of: Commander Afanasyev, Claudie Haigner* and Kozeyev. They use thecall sign Derbent,
so respectively Derbent-1 (AF), D-2 (Claudie) and D-3 Kozeyev.
Communications during the first day:
During the 2nd pass within range of the Netherlands there was some radio traffic between 1202 and 1204UTC on 121.750 mc. Also some telemetry signals on 166.133mc.
Afanasyev reports that all was going well.
Claudie (Derbent-2) then takes the microphone from Afanasyev and reports that they had opened the hatches between the SA (landing apparatus) and the BO (life- or orbital compartment). She also
reports the pressures in both compartments (807MM mercury) and the amount of nitrogen. (Normally nothing can be heard in the Netherlands during the 2nd orbit of ships or freighters, but this
time with the elevation of 1 or 2 degrees I had reception.)
During the 3rd pass within range of the Netherlands, there were strong signals from the S-TM33 between 1331 and 1337UTC. This was also the case with the telemetry and/or beacon transmitters on
166.130 and 922.755mc. The Doppler dip on 922.755 mc made it possible for the exact determination of the TCA (Time Closest Approach) at 13.33.09UTC. Afanasyev reported the successful 2
orbit corrections, which respectively lasted 54 and 40 seconds. For the 2nd manoeuvre the engines of the ship started 2 seconds later than planned. He also reported the indications given by the SIRT
(System for the Measurement of the Fuel Consumption): used fuel and fuel left.
During the 4th pass within range of the Netherlands between 1505 and 1511UTC TCA was at 15.06.53UTC. Strong signals on 166.130 mc and voice communications via 121.750 mc. Afanasyev
reports that they did not understood what was wrong with the water system and also that there was some condensation. He reports the CO-2 values which had increased from 6 to 6.5. They also took
off some caps what had not been done thus far. He also promised to do some checks well.
Chris van den Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.
