A couple of times while searching with binoculars for the "entrance" of Mir, I noticed a satellite (once a pair) preceding the station along the same path by less than a minute. Jeff Medkeff suggested that I was viewing Kvant (rocket casings from the 1987/89 additions to the complex?). I have followed the predictions of both on the Satellite Ephemeris Service for about 6 weeks, and notice that the separation is usually within seconds, but at times Kvant precedes Mir by up to 22 minutes. My question is exactly what is KVANT Rkt(?) USS=1987 030 A=N17845, and if it is really doing a little dance with Mir, then what are the orbital characteristics that make this action of no safety concern? -Jim