[sci.space] Is BURAN going to MIR?

wats@scicom.alphacdc.com (Bruce Watson) (10/28/88)

Radio Moscow has given a launch date/time of October 29 03:24 UT.
 Using this info and an approximate launch site lat/long (from the
Britannica I have Tyuratam 46:00N, 63:15E and Baykonur 47:46N,
66:11E--does someone have a better position?) I have determined
that Buran will have an initial Right Ascension of Ascending Node
of 89.9 degrees while Mir at Buran launch will have a RAAN of
99.3 degrees.  I haven't been following Mir.  Has it been 
making pre-Progress type maneuvers?

If Buran liftoff occurs at the given time it should be visible 
in the predawn hours over North America in the following 
days.  I have assumed a Mir-like orbit of 91 minutes and
an inclination of 51.6 degrees.