Cargo spacecraft "Progress M-34"

Mission:

• A Progress M-34 cargo ship, production no. 234, was launched from Baykonur on Apr 6, 1997 at 16:04 UTC. It carries supplies for the Mir station and repair equipment for Mir's oxygen generators, as well as replacement oxygen-generating 'candles' and a pair of new spacesuits for a forthcoming spacewalk. Progress M-34 docked successfully with the Kvant module on Mir at 17:30 UTC on Apr 8.
• The robot cargo ship Progress M-34 undocked from Mir at 1022 UTC on Jun 24, 1997 to perform a redocking test using recently developed remote-control procedures which are replacing the old automatic systems that Russia can no longer afford to buy from Ukraine. At around 0918 UTC on Jun 25, Mir commander Tsibliev was remotely commanding the approach of Progress to the Kvant (37KE) module when, for reasons that remain unclear, the Progress went off course and collided with a solar array on the Spektr module and then the module itself. A large hole was made in the solar panel, and one of Spektr's radiators was badly buckled. A small breach in Spektr's hull appears to have been made and the module began to depressurize. This was not a slow leak - apparently the crew heard a hissing sound and felt their ears pop. They closed the hatch on the core module transfer section that leads to Spektr. The Spektr module is now fully depressurized. It remains docked to Mir with its docking hatch open. The electrical connection between Spektr's solar panels and the main station was broken off, also cutting off the power supply from the solar panels on the Kristall module. The crew of Mir are Vasili Tsibliev, Aleksandr Lazutkin, and Mike Foale. (It has been noted that Tsibliev was also driving on the only previous documented orbital fender-bender, when he banged Soyuz TM-17 into Mir in Jan 1994).
• The Progress M-34 cargo ship is at a safe distance and is under control. It will be deorbited on Jun 26.
• Progress M-34 was deorbited over the Pacific at 0534 UTC on Jul 2.