Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!houxm!houxz!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!sri-unix!glenn@ll-vlsi
From: glenn%ll-vlsi@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: none
Message-ID: <442@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 1-Aug-84 02:02:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.442
Posted: Wed Aug  1 02:02:54 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Jul-84 23:59:28 EDT
Lines: 31

Subject: Soyuz T-12 flight, update

As noted in the previous mail I sent the Soyuz T-12 flight has a number of
unusual features.  Some events new today (July 25) make it even
more important.

First Svetlana Savitskaya spent four hours in a space suit outside the
Salyut space station, making her the first woman to walk in space.  With
her was the mission commander of the T-12 Vladimir Dzhanibekov.  This time
was spent doing experiments in electron beam welding and film sputtering.
The Russian commentary was that these techniques were important for
the construction of space colonies and large space stations.  The fact that
she spent so long outside enforces the point about Svetlana being aimed at
some higher position; a simple one hour or less EVA test would have given
them a space spectacular.

Secondly the Soyuz T-12 shows no sign of returning to earth, and has already
exceeded the eight day norm for such flights.  To meet the current landing
deadline it should come down before about Aug 1, but just when will be
important.

Finally there is the point did the space walkers use their own suits or not.
If they are not the suits on board the Salyut (which have been used 5 times
in the past year) did they bring them up themselves or were they sent up
in the Progress 20 in June?  If they brought the suits up themselves it would
indicate a substantial increase in the lifting capacity of their orbital
system for the Soyuz.

Hey look it, the Russians are not letting any grass grow under their feet in
space activities.  Let us get a move on.
                                  Glenn Chapman