Soyuz relocation scheduled for 11/29 (NET)

Extract from "NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 2 November 2004"
(http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=14394):
--------------------------
Upcoming Key Events: The current station attitude of sun-pointing
XPOP (x-axis perpendicular to orbit plane) will be maintained until
11/16. Station reboost will then follow on 11/17, with backup
opportunity on 11/18. The Soyuz relocation is scheduled for 11/29 (no
earlier than), preceded by a hot-fire test of its thrusters. The new
SIGI (space integrated GPS/inertial navigation system) R2 firmware
upload activities are GO pending completion of safety procedural
modifications.]
--------------------------


Which is the purpose for this Soyuz relocation?
Prior to the installation of PIRS, only SM aft and FGB nadir ports
could be used for Soyuz/Progress dockings. But currently it is
possible to dock to Pirs too, so in principle no relocation should be
needed.

---
Eduardo Tesheiner
Madrid - Spain

In message
(Eduardo Tesheiner) wrote:

Which is the purpose for this Soyuz relocation?
Prior to the installation of PIRS, only SM aft and FGB nadir ports
could be used for Soyuz/Progress dockings. But currently it is
possible to dock to Pirs too, so in principle no relocation should be
needed.

Having the Soyuz docked to Pirs greatly complicates EVAs so the
preference is to avoid having things docked there long term.

Anthony