On 24.12.1998 at 0409 UTC the engines of the freighter Progress-M40 raised Mir's orbit. With the

2-line elements determined after the orbit correction it was possible to calculate accurate passes of the complex again.

On 25.12.1998 the cosmonauts asked for the new Apogee and Perigee of Mir. TsUP said that these values were 372 and

361 KM. Possibly the last 2-lines will only be valid for a short period for there might follow a 2nd correction on 26 or 28.12.1998. Radio traffic and radio observations did not confirm that there was a correction on 26.12 so let us wait and hear if this will take place on 28.12.1998.

A high ranking official in Korolyov assured me that the reboost of the Mir-complex has nothing to do with an eventual

prolongation of the exploitation after June 1999, but was executed for ballistic reasons. The rumours about plans to extend

Mir's operational life are unfounded and the plan to bring Mir back in the earth's atmosphere after June 1999

is still fully in force.

Progress-M40:

The undocking of this freighter from Mir is scheduled for 4.02.1999. After some autonomous orbits Progress-M40 will jettison and deploy a solar reflector for the execution of the Znamya 2.5 experiment.

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