Adapted from Packet Radio
==========================

                               =========
                               SpaceNews
                               =========


                        MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 1997


SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It
is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use.


* A CHAT WITH MIR *
===================
Tom Daniels, N3CXP, of Allentown, Pennsylvania spoR HUMOR 49;R HUMOR 50;R HUMOR 51;R HUMOR 52;R HUMOR 55;R HUMOR 58;R MIRFAN 38;R MIRFAN 39;R SAT 202;R SCHULE 62;R SCHULE 63;R SPACE 257;R SPACE 258
ke to Mike Foale, KB5UAC,
on board the space station Mir on 07-Sep-97 at 12:30 UTC.  The following is
a transcript of Tom's conversation with the American working on Mir:

N3CXP: How's the MIR?

R0MIR: Were finally getting the place in shape again.  We've been in a state
of complete turmoil here for the last month or so - with the EVAs and just
want to clean up the house so we have some cool air flying and the fans and
filters are clean.  We are reviewing a lot of the recordings that we took
from during the EVA.  We're running around the station trying to find
windows to take shots.

N3CXP: Were you able to repair the leak in the module that was having all
the problems?

R0MIR: Negative on that, unfortunately we learned a lot but didn't win.
Basically, Anatole dug away and dug away in the piece that was suspected to
have the hole and found a pretty clean hole under the insulation and some
bent tubing on the outside but inside it was just clean.. So we then moved
on to the solar array mounts where the solat array extends into the body of
the module.  There's a powerful motor.. about two foot into diameter and
that motor is bent by about a centimeter on and it's clearance with the
bearings is out on one side by about a centimeter...there was a very, very
large impact with that part of the structure and it is mounted directly to
the pressure hull, so our feeling is maybe, there is a hole in the hull,
deep down in that motor bay.

N3CXP: Mike, this is the first time we've worked.  UHF is a pleasure
right now, without competing with a whole lot of stuff.  We're located
in Allentown, Pennsylvania and with you directly to our north over Canada
the range is about 1200 miles.

R0MIR: Well Tom, it is a pleasure to talk to you and I have a big feeling
of guilt really, that I haven't worked 2 meter voice over the U.S. much.
Mostly it was because when we are using two meters vhf through the station
com system, it actually stop the receiver from picking up 2 meter com, so
I've been forced to use 70-cm a lot for packet, however when I tried 2-m
voice with people, the QRM is so intense I cannot make out who is talking
to me, and people hear me, but every call gets jumped on and I cannot
write it down or even log it.  Over.

N3CXP: UHF is great here.  I've programmed in the various doppler
corrections and the next step is to get some computer control over
it.  Have you have many other voice contacts here on 70-cm yet?

R0MIR: No this is the first time I talked here on voice, I only switched to
this channel this morning, and I heard someone over in New Zealand.  People
are having some trouble with the doppler.  It will take some time for themi
to get it down, but it's probably a good experiment for everybody.

N3CXP: We'll it's fun for me, I can vouch for that!

R0MIR: And for me too.  Tell me, do think it's widely known that we
switched to 70-cm?

N3CXP: No, I don't think so.  It won't take long, however.  There aren't as
many hams who have the capability for doppler correction, however.  I found
it on the e-mail mailing list for Mir.

R0MIR: It sad to exclude people, however it was getting to the point that
I didn't work it (voice) at all because it was getting frustrating for me.
Over.

N3CXP: I can believe that.  You're at four degrees Mike.  It was certainly
a pleasure, reminescent of chats with Sergei Krialev.  73's.  It was a
pleasure working you, and you're down at three degrees.  N3CXP good morning.

R0MIR: And this is R0MIR, clear with N3CXP a pleasure Tom and catch you
again!  Over.

N3CXP: 73's I hope to work you again, Mike.  Have a nice day!

[Info via Tom Daniels, N3CXP (n3cxp@prolog.net)]