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will require the erection of further solar panels. Training for such an operation is under way at Star Crfy. The remote-sensing module is equipped with a large airlock that will be needed by French astronaut Jean Loup Chretien when he performs his spacewalk to erect space structures. His mission to Mir may therefore be delayed from November 1988 to early 1989. The third science module, dedicated to materials processing experiments, may be launched in 1989, followed by a life science and "technology" module in 1990-91. The completed 120-tonne Mir complex is expected to be fully operational around 1992-94. Some modules will be based on the Kvant astrophysics laboratory now attached to Mir. Their propulsion units will be jettisoned and destroyed on re-entry, although Kvant's unit was placed in storage orbit because, after two docking attempts, it did not have enough propellant left for a controlled re-entry. Other modules may be based on Heavy Cosmos spacecraft with propulsion units still attached. Latest Soviet illustrations show Mir with two Kvant-type and two Heavy Cosmos-type modules attached. The Soviets are calling for international co-operation on the Mir 2 space station to be launched after 1992. This would comprise a 100-tonne core vehicle launched by Energia heavylift booster. Modules weighing 20 tonnes would be launched by Proton. The station would act as an outpost for manned flights to the Moon and Mars. Cosmonaut Yuri Romanenko might not achieve his target of 300 days on board Mir. He is reported to be getting rather tired and his working day has been reduced from 8hr to 5hr. The Soviets are monitoring his health closely and if necessary will terminate the Soyuz TM3 mission before December. Romanenko and colleague Alexander Alexandrov will be replaced on board Mir by the Soyuz TM4 crew of commander Vladimir Titov, flight engineer Alexander Serebov, and medical doctor Poliatkov. The crew is to attempt a yearlong spaceflight.
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