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Russians to Switch Mir Control System
By Anatoly Zak
Staff Writer
posted: 05:15 pm ET
03 September 1999
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mir_control_switch'Ground controllers in Korolev, Russia, are preparing to switch the Mir space station to a backup analog orientation system on Monday or Tuesday, according to Uriy Grigoriev, deputy to the Designer General of RKK Energia, the company that runs the Mir. In the process, the main onboard computer and 12 operational gyrodynes, which provide precise orientation of the station, will be taken offline to save energy during the station's dormant flight. Once the switchover takes place, the station will be controlled from the ground by radio commands activating small onboard engines to keep it from tumbling in space. The so-called analog control system that allows radio control of the station was installed by the Mirs last crew, which departed on Aug. 28. The system would allow accuracy within 10 degrees, much less precise than that provided by computer-controlled system. RKK Energia hopes to resume computerized control to guarantee precise deorbiting of Mir sometime next year. That might be one of the tasks of the next and last crew of Mir if such a mission takes place.
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