June 28
1991 EVA 8
World EVA 92 Russian EVA 39 Space Station EVA 47
Duration: 3:24 Spacecraft/mission: Mir PE-9 Crew: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Spacewalkers: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Purpose: Attach TREK experiment to Mir's exterior
In addition to tools for the Kvant Kurs antenna repair, Progress-M 8 delivered the 1-m (3.3-ft) TREK panel. The space exposure experiment was devised by the University of California at Berkeley to study cosmic-ray superheavy nuclei by recording their tracks through layers of phosphate glass. TREK was designed to remain outside on Kvant 2 for 2 yr, then be recovered and returned to Earth for analysis. Artsebarski and Krikalev also installed charged particle detectors, retrieved the thermomechanical joint assembled during the previous EVA, and tested a new TV camera. They used the Strela boom to move around Mir's exterior and completed the EVA 2 hr ahead of schedule.
"Mir Mission Report: Cosmonauts Chalk Up More than Thirty Hours of Spacewalks," Neville Kidger, Spaceflight, October 1991, pp. 359-360; transcript of Man, Earth, Universe program, Moscow Central TV Second Program, July 20, 1991 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRSUSP-91-004, September 20, 1991, pp. 4-5).
July 15
1991 EVA 9
World EVA 93 Russian EVA 40 Space Station EVA 48
Duration: 5:45 Spacecraft/mission: Mir PE-9 Crew: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Spacewalkers: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Purpose: Prepare worksite for Sofora girder construction
This was the first of four planned EVAs dedicated to Sofora truss assembly. Sofora, named for a fast-growing central Asian shrub, was developed by NPO Energia. During the EVA, Artsebarski noted unusually heavy air leakage through abrasions in his gloves. This was the eleventh EVA for his suit. The cosmonauts used Strela to move themselves and the Sofora mounting platform from Kvant 2 to the worksite on Kvant. They then attached four heating and assembly devices to exterior electrical power outlets.
TASS in English, July 19, 1991 (transcribed in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRSUSP-91-004, September 20, 1991, p. 4); transcript of Moscow All-Union First Program Network, July 27, 1991 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-004, September 20, 1991, p. 6); "Goodbye, Spacesuit? Report from the Flight Control Center," A. Tarasov, Pravda, July 29, 1991, p. 2 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-007, November 20, 1991, pp. 5-7); 1991-1992 Europe & Asia in Space, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold, U.S. Air Force Phillips Laboratory, 1993, pp. 67-68; "The Experience in Operation and Improving the Orlan-type Space Suits," I. P. Abramov, Acta Astronautica, Vol. 36, No. 1, July 1995, pp. 1-12.
July 19
1991 EVA 10
World EVA 94 Russian EVA 41 Space Station EVA 49
Duration: 5:28 Spacecraft/mission: Mir PE-9 Crew: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Spacewalkers: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Purpose: Start assembling Sofora girder
Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev left the Kvant 2 SALC, moved down the module to the base block, and took up the controls of the Strela boom, which he used to transfer Artsebarski and two boxes of Sofora parts to the Kvant worksite. He also transferred the first cubical, half-meter-wide Sofora truss section, which the cosmonauts assembled inside Mir before the EVA to serve as a base for the remaining 20 truss sections. The cosmonauts attached the mounting platform moved on the previous EVA to Kvant's hull, then began Sofora assembly. The truss was put together lying back over Soyuz-TM 12 at the aft port, parallel to the long axis of the Mir base block. Krikalev and Artsebarski used the four heating and assembly devices to shrink the memory metal sleeves in the truss joints. They had difficulty seeing their work as the lighting changed, but managed to keep working during orbital night. The cosmonauts were unable to use foot restraints provided because the distance between the restraints and their work was different than on Earth, so they relied on their hands and arms to hold position. They recorded their operations on videotape, then transmitted the recordings to specialists in the TsUP during communication sessions after the EVA. Krikalev and Artsebarski assembled three Sofora segments before closing out this, their fourth EVA together.
TASS in English, July 19, 1991, in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-004, September 20, 1991, p. 4; transcript of Man, Earth, Universe program, Moscow Central TV Second Program, July 20, 1991 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91004, September 20, 1991, pp. 4-5); "Goodbye, Spacesuit? Report from the Flight Control Center," A. Tarasov, Pravda, July 29, 1991, p. 2 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-007, November 20, 1991, pp. 5-7); 1991-1992 Europe & Asia in Space, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold, U.S. Air Force Phillips Laboratory, 1993, p. 68.
July 23
1991 EVA 11
World EVA 95 Russian EVA 42 Space Station EVA 50
Duration: 5:34 Spacecraft/mission: Mir PE-9 Crew: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Spacewalkers: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Purpose: Continue Sofora assembly
The cosmonauts partly assembled Sofora segments inside Mir between EVAs to save time. Artsebarski's liquid cooling garment connector came apart during suit checkout, probably because its operational lifetime had been exceeded. During this EVA they added 11 more segments to Sofora, commenting on how easy it was to assemble. After the EVA, veteran cosmonaut V. I. Sevastyanov, host of a popular Moscow TV science program, told his viewers that the EVA was performed quickly and smoothly because of intense preparation and training. He added that, "a spacewalk is like a stage performance. And how much work is necessary backstage, before [the curtain goes up]?"
Transcript of Man, Earth, Universe program, Moscow Central TV Second Program, July 20, 1991 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-004, September 20, 1991, pp. 4-5); 1991-1992 Europe & Asia in Space, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold, U.S. Air Force Phillips Laboratory, 1993, p. 68; "The Experience in Operation and Improving the Orlan-type Space Suits," I. P. Abramov, Acta Astronautica, Vol. 36, No. 1, July 1995, pp. 1-12.
July 27
1991 EVA 12
World EVA 96 Russian EVA 43 Space Station EVA 51
Duration: 6:49 Spacecraft/mission: Mir PE-9 Crew: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Spacewalkers: Anatoli Artsebarski, Sergei Krikalev Purpose: Complete Sofora assembly
PE-9's sixth and final EVA began with release into space of the worn-out Orlan-DMA #10 suit. The newspaper Pravda lamented the suit's disposal in space, saying that it might have been returned to Earth and sold for profit to a museum. The suit was worn 9 times by different cosmonauts. The three remaining Sofora segments were assembled, then the truss was attached to its mounting platform on Kvant and raised so that it was nearly perpendicular to the long axis of the Mir base block. Sofora was sloped 11 deg toward Mir's front to place its top above the station's center-of-gravity. Artsebarski climbed to the top of the truss and attached a Soviet flag mounted in a metal frame. Moscow TV's Vremya news program stated that, "it is not difficult to understand Anatoli Artsebarski and Sergei Krikalev, who, on their own initiative, placed a Soviet flag atop the girder. After all, our country has not totally fallen apart yet and there are still things which we do better than anyone else in the world." Artsebarski's helmet visor fogged up because his suit's heat exchanger ran out of water, so Krikalev had to guide him back to the Kvant 2 SALC. According to cosmonaut Sevastyanov, speaking as host of a TV science program, Sofora was as tall as a five-story building and would "be subjected to burning frosts and radiation and... left alone for a whole year with only its sensors for company." If it proved able to withstand these conditions, Sevastyanov reported, a thruster package for Mir roll control would be placed on top. Sofora had an attachment point on top for receiving the thruster package, and was hinged a third of the way up so its top could be bent down and placed within easy reach. The cosmonauts reported bruises on their hands, elbows, and shoulders after the EVA.
Transcript of Man, Earth, Universe program, Moscow Central TV Second Program, July 20, 1991 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-004, September 20, 1991, pp. 4-5); transcript of Vremya newscast, July 23, 1991 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-004, September 20, 1991, p. 6); transcript of Vremya newscast, July 27, 1991 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-004, September 20, 1991, p. 7); "Goodbye, Spacesuit? Report from the Flight Control Center," A. Tarasov, Pravda, July 29, 1991, p. 2 (translated in JPRS Report, Science & Technology, USSR: Space, JPRS-USP-91-007, November 20, 1991, pp. 5-7); 1991-1992 Europe & Asia in Space, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold, U.S. Air Force Phillips Laboratory, 1993, p. 68; "Cosmonaut Rescued from Atop Mir Tower During Station EVA," Aviation Week & Space Technology, August 5, 1991, p. 20; "The Experience in Operation and Improving the Orlan-type Space Suits," I. P. Abramov, Acta Astronautica, Vol. 36, No. 1, July 1995, pp. 1-12.
August 2–11
STS-43/Atlantis
September 12–18
STS-48/Discovery
October 2
Mir/Soyuz-TM 13 PE-10/VE-4 launch
October 10
Mir/Soyuz-TM 12 PE-9/VE-4 landing
November 24–December 1
STS-44/Atlantis
1992
January 22–30
STS-42/Discovery
February 20
1992 EVA 1
World EVA 97 Russian EVA 44 Space Station EVA 52
Duration: 4:12 Spacecraft/mission: Mir PE-10 Crew: Alexandr Volkov, Sergei Krikalev Spacewalkers: Alexandr Volkov, Sergei Krikalev Purpose: Perform miscellaneous maintenance tasks
Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev was to have returned to Earth with Anatoli Artsebarski in October, but the Soviet Union's collapse following August's failed coup d'etat against Mikhail Gorbachev meant a shortage of launch vehicles and a need to woo independent Kazakhstan, where Russia's Baikonur launch facility is located. Mission planners thus combined two missions, replacing the flight engineer from Soyuz-TM 13 with Kazakh cosmonaut-researcher Toktar Aubakirov. The Soyuz-TM 13 crew consisted also of veteran cosmonaut Alexandr Volkov and an Austrian cosmonaut-researcher. With no new flight engineer to replace him, Krikalev had to stay aboard Mir for an additional 6 mo, giving him the opportunity to add to his career total of six EVAs. Volkov's suit heat exchanger clogged at the start of this EVA, forcing him to remain near the Kvant 2 SALC so he could use the module's heat exchanger. Russian sources stated later that the malfunction occurred because the suit was stored for several months. Despite being tied by his cooling umbilical to the airlock, Volkov assisted with installation of space exposure experiments on Kvant 2. Then Krikalev moved off to carry out the remaining EVA tasks by himself, an obvious violation of the Russian EVA "buddy system." According to Nikolai Yuzov, head of the Star City space training department, EVA cost 100,000 roubles/hr, which encouraged cosmonauts and ground controllers to attempt to complete EVAs once they were started despite risks. Krikalev removed Sofora assembly equipment and cleaned cameras on Kvant, then collected an experimental solar array section that was added to the base block top array in 1988. The EVA required less time than planned despite Volkov's absence. With the conclusion of this EVA, Krikalev established a new world record for total EVA time of 36 hr, 29 min, which stood for more than 4 yr. Volkov's recalcitrant suit was later released into space, a move Krikalev condemned, saying that it might have been returned to Earth and sold at auction.