The launch of this freighter with new supplies for the Mir-space station is on schedule for 21.07.1996 at 23.58.06 UTC (For Moscow summertime already on 22.07.96). So for the launch of this freighter green light has been given for the use of the carrier Soyuz-U. (For details about the Soyuz-U problems see MirNEWS.311)

Soyuz-TM24: The intention still exists to launch this ship with the crew of the 22d Main expedition to Mir (Manakov and Vinogradov) and the French cosmonaut Claudie Andre- Deshays on 14.08.1996, but a final decision has not yet been made. It might be possible that the Russians entrust the launch of the unmanned Progress-M to the carrier Soyuz-U, but wait with the green light for the use of that carrier for a manned ship until the eventual successful launch of the freighter.

Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.