That’s it. The sextant S-2 riddle is finally solved. Yesterday I asked them to test the sextant settings input on the simulator at the Cosmonaut Training Center, using the same initial data the ground had given us for the test mode. Today they reported how a star moves through the sextant field of view in their setup when changing settings “Delta-one” and “Delta-two.” With “Delta-one” the star in the main channel deflects downward, and with “Delta-two” it goes upward. On our onboard unit, it’s the opposite. Either the instrument was assembled incorrectly or the settings labels are swapped.

I can hardly believe it — the thing was checked, they signed off on it, and nobody caught the error. Oh well, the main thing is we found it. My mind is at ease now.

All day preparing to receive the visiting expedition. We reviewed the medical equipment: “Echograph” for ultrasonic heart and vessel imaging, “Poza” for evaluating movement coordination, and the astrophysical instruments “Piramig” and PSN. We found all the kits for other, smaller experiments and gathered them into one bag so we wouldn’t have to search later. Tested communications from the intermediate compartment, where the crew will dock.

I’m tired. I feel the nerves starting to fray. Must hold on. After the French, the workload will be lighter, but for Tolya and me, I think, it will be harder.

Today we put on new “Penguin” jumpsuits for receiving the guests. I want to say a few words about training on the treadmill. Before training we put on a waist harness with bungees connecting us to the treadmill, and attach elastic bands to our ankles. The bungees press us down, simulating body weight, while the elastics load the legs during their forward motion, so we run almost like on Earth. You can turn on the treadmill motor and run as on an escalator, or run without the motor, moving the belt by leg force. All muscles work; I enjoy running. We run in socks for better foot sensitivity, since otherwise the feet go numb and the skin cracks and peels. Running goes better with rhythmic music.

An interesting moment: when you jump in place and relax your body, it wobbles and flails, because during the jump you go entirely upward while your torso is pulled to the treadmill by the bungees. Then the body starts being pulled down, but your arms, shoulders, and legs keep going up by inertia from the push. You end up like a puppet on rubber bands — you yank it, and all the limbs start moving.