During the day we performed astrophysical experiments. I get great pleasure from them, especially since there was a moment when I needed to think and make a decision. The assignment code wouldn’t go through to the “Delta” system for the programmed attitude maneuvers, and there were still two shadow passes of work ahead — the whole day’s experiment and program were about to be scrubbed. What to do? If we waited for the comm session, we’d lose half the time allocated for the experiment. And the ground might not be able to sort it out on the fly and would cancel the work. We decided to do everything ourselves. I analyzed the situation, and there was only one way out: I had to take the risk of shutting down the Delta navigation system to reset it to its initial state, then load the entire program from scratch. I switched off the computing complex, turned it back on, checked synchronization with Moscow time. I didn’t enter the programs via codes 51 and 19, since all programs would have been rewritten from the external storage device, and the time had already passed.

So I selected a different mode — “Stabilization — KASKAD, precision with manual attitude control” — and for two shadow passes calmly worked with the X-ray spectrometer and the RT-4 telescope.

Anniversary of the flight — three months in orbit. Just now at 5 PM we spoke with the 20th. And unexpectedly, instead of congratulations, we got a reprimand for allegedly not doing enough exercise and supposedly losing weight because of it. I ask: “How is our work?” “You’re working well.”

That’s what matters most to us. The next comm session came. TsUP is waiting, empathizing. I can feel everyone is interested in what my mood is like and how I’ll behave. I hear the comm operator asking Tolya: “Where’s Valentin?” I really was in a bad mood; in those hour and a half I’d gotten so tired from thinking that I didn’t want to come on the comm, but I pulled myself together and answered: “I’m listening.” Then the operator asked: “Guys, could you give an interview for radio?” I answered: “With pleasure.” I can see everyone in TsUP relaxed and understood there wouldn’t be a blowup.