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