Kvant rockets preceding Mir?

Jim Stamm (nemo@flash.net)
Wed, 5 Nov 97 10:13:42 -0700

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