Meanwhile, NASA and Russia have nothing to say.

We have learned from sources in the US, Europe, and Russia that a substantial freon leak occured aboard Mir a week or so ago. The leak occurred during work on the compressor within Mir's Base Block air conditioning unit. The amount was significant enough for the crew to be ordered to take air samples even though there is currently no way to perform any onboard analyses of Freon levels.

With this air conditioner out of action, the only remaining water condensate recovery system in operation on Mir is to be found in the Soyuz return vehicle. This system is only capable of removing about half of the humidity dumped into Mir's cabin each day by the crew. Some thought has been given to lowering the temperature inside the Soyuz Orbital Module (so as to increase water condensation) with the hope that the condensate recovery system in the adjacent Soyuz Descent Module can take up some of the load. This procedure will be of limited help since care must be taken not to cause condensation within the Soyuz Descent Module. It is almost certain that replacement Freon will be manifested either on the next Progress or the next Shuttle flight.

Meanwhile, both Elektron (water hydrolysis) units are shut off, as is the Vosdukh CO2 removal system, thus requiring Oxygen candles to be burnt. The crew of Mir has worked throughout last week and this past weekend trying to get these various life suport systems systems operational. This leads some Mir observers to speculate that the 'official' prupose for delaying a planned EVA (i.e. Progress unloading) may not be completely accurate.

We have also learned that during recent debriefings at JSC, that former Mir astronaut Mike Foale has been telling stories of internal hull corrosion, additional fires, and 'sheets' of water floating around Mir. Water condensation has become a problem on Mir over the past several years. The spaces (plenum) behind equipment racks, designed to allow the free circulation of cabin air, are now crammed full of various items, thus allowing areas for large amounts of condensed water to accumulate.

Meanwhile, NASA and Russia have had nothing to say. Is it just the holidays or .....

A fourth EVA delay has been announced (Mir spacewalks postponed again, UPI, Yahoo) - and this time the problems with the Vosdukh CO2 scrubber are cited as being the reason. We have also learned that NASA and Russia are trying to figure out how replacement parts for the failed Air Conditioner (or an entire spare unit) might be crammed aboard STS-89 scheduled for launch on 20 January 1998. Meanwhile, both Elektron water hydrolysis (Oxygen generator) units are still shut down and Oxygen candles are being burnt.