Expedition EO-2

Crew & mission data:

EVA data: EVAs  Date  Duration  Cosmonauts EVA-1  12 Apr 1987  3h 40m  Romanenko, Laveykin EVA-2  12 Jun 1987  1h 53m  Romanenko, Laveykin EVA-3  16 Jun 1987  3h 15m  Romanenko, Laveykin

Mission details:

• Mir Expedition EO-02
• Following a two day solo flight the Soyuz TM-2 docked with the MIR/Progress 27 space station on 07.02.1987. The cosmonauts became the second resident crew.
• First time of using the new docking system Kurs. Kurs was the successor to the IGLA system and today provides navigation beaconing for Russian space vehicles. When used for docking, the Soyuz or Progress vehicle broadcasts radar pulses from multiple antennas. The variation in strength between the antennas allows the system to compute relative position, attitude, and approach rate. The system is designed for automatic rendezvous and docking, but in an emergency cosmonauts may take command of the vehicle either locally, or from the MIR.
• Onboard the MIR the crew performed various scientific research work, including geophysical exploration of Middel-Asia, the Kaspian-Sea and the Caucasian region, spectralanalyses, production of semiconductor-materials with the Korund 1M apparatus (48 different experiments) and photographs of the Earth surface. Other experiments were medical research, research work with fluids, building of metal alloys (Copper and Silver), plant growing experiments in the Phyton and Rost- apparatus, mounting the MKS-M2 optical spectrometer and a photometer for astrophysical experiments.
• Early in the crews stay on MIR, the Kvant-1 module was launched to automatically dock with Mir. Kvant consisted of the space station module (11 tons) and a unique FGB-based vehicle called the Functional Service Module (FSM) (9.6 tons). The FSM carried out major maneuvers on April 2 and April 5, 1987. On April 5, 1987 its Igla approach system began homing on MIR's aft port. The Mir crew retreated to Soyuz TM-2 so that they could escape in the event the module got out of control. About 200 m out, the Igla system lost its lock on MIR's aft port Igla antenna. The cosmonauts watched from within Soyuz TM-2 as the Kvant/ FSM combination passed within 10 m of the station.
• Kvant and its FSM drifted 400 km from MIR before being guided back for a second docking attempt. Soft-dock occurred early on April 9, 1987. Kvant's probe unit would not retract fully, preventing hard docking between MIR and Kvant. The Soviets left Kvant soft-docked while they considered a solution. Maneuvers were impossible during this period, because the probe of the Kvant/FSM combination would wobble loosely in MIR's aft port drogue unit, banging the docking collars together.
  
  
  
• Three EVAs were performed: on 12 Apr 1987 (3h 40m) to repair the problem with Kvant. They discovered a foreign object lodged in the docking unit, probably a trash bag they had left between Progress 28 and MIR's drogue. On command from the TsUP, Kvant extended its probe unit, permitting the cosmonauts to pull the object free and discard it into space. Kvant then successfully completed docking at a command from the ground.
• The second EVA on 12 Jun 1987 (1h 53m) was needed to install a new solar array delivered with Kvant. In the third EVA on 16 Jun 1987 (3h 15m) they mounted additional segments (24 m²) on the third solar array, attached its electrical connections to the Mir power system, and extended it to its full 10.6-m length.
• Soyuz TM-3 docked with rear Mir port at 3:30 GMT 24 July 1987. Undocked with rear port 30 July and docked to forward port. Undocked 05:55 GMT 29 December. Returned Aleksandrov, Yuri Romanenko (Soyuz TM-2), Anatoly Levchenko (Soyuz TM-4) to Earth.
• Laveykin developed heart irregularities which made necessary his early return to Earth. The crew was partly (Laveykin) exchanged. After that, the research work didn′t end. Romanenko and cosmonaut Aleksandr Aleksandrov performed more than 1000 astrophysical, geophysical, medical, biological and technological experiments.
• A new long duration record was set by Yuri Romanenko (326 days).
  

  A view from Soyuz TM-2 of Mir/Kvant-1 module and Soyuz TM-3 docked

  
  

Astrophilately covers:

Cosmic Mail: Special Syrian Soyuz TM-3 launch cancel: 22.07.87 and Russian docking cancel: 24 07 87. Mir black boardcancel, signed by Viktorenko, Alexandrov and Faris.