The launch of this freighter has been postponed. A few seconds before blast off the control system discovered an irregularity in one of the systems of the carrier Soyuz-U and stopped the operation. An inquiry into the cause of the failure is going on. Depending on this inquiry the decision for the second launch attempt will be made.

Towards the planned launch time (24.07 at abt. 2247 UTC) the Mir station was in visual range of Baykonur and the crew hoped to see the start. So they did not see anything and during the pass in orbit 59591 (0500-0512 UTC) Onufriyenko asked TsUP why the launch has been postponed.

Meanwhile the cosmonauts continue the preparations for the departure of the freighter Progress-M31, still docked to the station. They are loading the Progress-M31 with things they do not longer need . Progress-M31 remains docked at the station until the 2d day of the flight of Progress-M32 when it is obvious that the systems of that freighter are functioning normally.

Soyuz-TM24: About this ship with the relief crew Manakov and Vinogradov and the French spacionaute Claudie Andre-Deshays there will be a press-conference in Ts.P.K. (Starcity) on 26.07.1996. Undoubtedly the failure of the Soyuz-U rocket will be discussed there and we hope to get information about the eventual launch of Soyuz-TM24 on 14.08.1996.

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