Progress M1-4 Re-docks with ISS; Mir Contact Interrupted

Having completed autonomous mission on near-earth orbit and rendezvous
maneuvers with the International Space Station (ISS) Orbital Complex,
the Russian logistics vehicle Progress M1-4 docked successfully with
it today at 14 hours 3 minutes 16 seconds Moscow Time.

As reported earlier, this logistics vehicle was launched into orbit
on November 16, 2000 with the subsequent docking with the ISS Orbital
Complex performed on November 18. Since December 1 it had been in autonomous
mission after being undocked from the Complex.

The logistics vehicle Progress M1-4 approached the Orbital Complex in
an automatic mode until the distance between them was only 185 m. Their
further rendezvous was performed by crew with the aid of a tele-operated
rendezvous control system called TORU as envisaged by the Mission Program.

The operation performed made it possible to verify serviceability of
the ISS Russian Segment rendezvous control loop, which in its initial
rendezvous phase used the Zvezda Service Module (SM) onboard equipment,
while in its final phase it employed the Zarya Functional Cargo Block
(FGB).

The operation performed successfully verified mating capability of logistics,
manned vehicles and newly-developed modules of the Russian Segment with
respect to the FGB nadir part. Thus, the existing Russian Segment rendezvous
and berthing control loop is ready for its further operations.

Now the ISS crew is to dismantle rendezvous system hardware on the logistics
vehicle Progress M1-4 with the aim to return it to Earth, as well as
carry to completion loading of the used materials and equipment into
the vehicle.
The rendezvous, berthing and docking of the vehicle were performed under
control of the Lead Operational Control Team (LOCT) of Moscow Mission
Control Center (MCC-M) and the 1st prime crew at the ISS (ISS-1), namely:
Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko (ISS-1 Pilot), Sergei Krikalev (ISS-1
Flight Engineer) and U.S. astronaut William Shepherd (ISS-1 Prime Crew
Commander).

The ISS Orbital Complex is currently operating with the following Modules
incorporated: Zarya FGB – U.S. Unity Module – Russian Zvezda Service
Module – Soyuz TM-31 manned vehicle – logistics vehicle Progress M1-4.
The complex onboard systems operate nominally. The ISS Complex flight
is commanded by Moscow MCC-M (Korolev, Moscow region) in cooperation
with the U.S. Mission Control Center (MCC-H, Houston).

As the MCC-M-based LOCT experts report, the Complex is flying around
near-earth orbit with the following parameters: inclination of 51,6*
maximum and minimum altitude of 382,3 km and 369,6 km, respectively;
orbital period of 91,8 min.

The logistics vehicle Progress M1-4 docking performed completed the
ISS orbit-related activities in 2000.

During this year RSC Energia involved in cooperation with the Russian
and foreign participating enterprises has supported 22 successful launches
of space vehicles under the Federal and commercial space programs.

Year 2000 saw 9 successfully completed dockings of the logistics and
manned vehicles Progress M, Progress M1, Souyz TM with the ISS Complex
and Mir Station.

The team and management of Rocket and Space Corporation after S.P. Korolev
express profound gratitude to the participants and partners involved
in these activities, wish all employees of space industry, cooperating
enterprises and those devoted to the Universe research a happy New Year
and send them their best wishes in connection with the coming new Millennium!

P.S. During one day from December 25 to December 26 loss
of MCC radiocommunication with the Mir Orbital Station was reported.
The communication has been reestablished by now; the station keeps flying
in an automatic controlled mode. The causes of the unstable communication
are being analyzed by RSC Energia experts and MCC specialists.