Mir 81326 224008194 2008-07-06T22:34:17Z Zorrobot 7218328 robot Modifying: [[eo:Kosmostacio Mir]] {{otheruses}} {{Infobox Space station | station = Station ''Mir'' | station_image = Mir on 12 June 1998edit1.jpg | station_image_size = | station_image_caption = ''Mir'' following separation from the [[Space Shuttle Discovery|Space Shuttle ''Discovery'']], [[June 12]], [[1998]] | extra_image = | extra_image_size = | extra_image_caption = | insignia = Mir insignia.svg | insignia_size = | insignia_caption = | sign = ''Mir'' | crew = 3 | launch = [[1986-02-19]]<br/>21:28:23 [[UTC]] | launch_pad = LC200/39, [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], <br/>[[USSR]] | reentry = [[2001-03-23]]<br/>05:50:00 [[UTC]] | mass = 124,340 kg<br/>(274,123 [[Pound (mass)|lbs]]) | length = | width = | height = | volume = 350 [[cubic metre|m³]] | pressure = | perigee = 386 km (207.9 [[nautical mile|nmi]]) | apogee = 398 km (212.5 nmi) | inclination = 51.6 [[Degree (temperature)|degrees]] | altitude = | speed = | period = 89.8 [[minute]]s | orbits_day = 16.13 | in_orbit = 5,519 days | occupied = 4,592 days | orbits = | distance = 3,638,470,307 km<br/>(1,964,616,800 nmi) | as_of = Deorbit on [[2001-03-23]] | stats_ref = | configuration_image = Mir module.jpg | configuration_size = | configuration_caption = Final configuration of ''Mir'', with docked [[Space Shuttle]] }} '''''Mir''''' ({{lang-ru|Мир}}, which can mean both ''Peace'' and ''World'', and was the name given to peasant communes in pre-revolutionary Russia) was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] (and later [[Russia]]n) orbital station. ''Mir'' was humanity's first consistently inhabited long-term research station in space, and the first 'third generation' type [[space station]], constructed over a number of years with a [[Space station#Modular|modular design]]. ''Mir'' holds the record for [[spaceflight records|longest continuous human presence in space]] at eight days short of 10 years, and, through a number of collaborations, was made internationally accessible to [[Astronaut|cosmonauts and astronauts]] of many countries. The most notable of these, the [[Shuttle-Mir Program]], saw American [[Space Shuttle]]s visiting the station eleven times, bringing supplies and providing crew rotation. ''Mir'' was assembled in orbit by successively connecting several modules, each launched separately from 1986 to 1996. The station existed until [[23 March]] [[2001]], when it was deliberately de-orbited, breaking apart during [[atmospheric re-entry]] over the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific Ocean]]. == Development == [[Image:Mir base block drawing.png|thumb|left|200px|Mir Base Block with the five ports in a spherical node at the station’s forward end (left)]] ''Mir'' was authorized as part of the third generation of Soviet space systems in a [[February 17]] [[1976]] decree to design an improved model of the [[Salyut]] DOS-17K space station. Four Salyut space stations had already been launched since 1971. Three more were launched during the development of ''Mir''. At the time it was planned that the base blocks ([[Mir Core Module|DOS-7]] and [[Zvezda (ISS)|DOS-8]]) would be equipped with a total of four docking ports: two at either end of the station as with the Salyut stations, and an additional two ports on either side of a docking sphere at the front of the station. By August 1978, this had evolved to the final configuration of one aft port and five ports in a spherical compartment at the forward end of the station.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica"> {{cite web | title = Mir complex | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/craft/mirmplex.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-16 }} </ref> It was originally planned that the ports would connect to 7.5 tonne modules derived from the [[Soyuz spacecraft]]. These modules would have used a Soyuz propulsion module, as in Soyuz and [[Progress spacecraft|Progress]], and descent module and orbital module would have been replaced with a long laboratory module.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica"/> [[Image:Zvezda Service Module under construction.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Zvezda Service Module under construction. Sister to the Mir Core and originally to be the core of Mir 2]] The Mir program was consolidated with [[Vladimir Chelomei]]'s manned [[Almaz]] military space station program in a February 1979 resolution. The docking ports were reinforced to accommodate 20 tonne space station modules based on the [[TKS spacecraft]]. [[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|NPO Energia]] was responsible for the overall space station; however, work was subcontracted to [[KB Salyut]], the development arm of the [[Khrunichev]] due to ongoing work on [[Energia]], [[Salyut 7]], [[Soyuz spacecraft#Soyuz-T .281976-1986.29|Soyuz-T]], and [[Progress spacecraft]]. KB Salyut began work in 1979, and drawings were released in 1982-1983. New systems incorporated into the station included the Salyut 5B digital flight control computer and gyrodyne flywheels (taken from Almaz), and the new [[Kurs (docking system)|Kurs automatic rendezvous system]], [[Altair (satellite)|Altair satellite]] communications system, Elektron oxygen generators, and Vozdukh [[Rebreather#Carbon dioxide scrubber|carbon dioxide scrubbers]].<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica"/> By early 1984 work on ''Mir'' had ground to a halt while all resources were being put into the [[Buran program]] to get the [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran space shuttle]] ready for flight test. Funding was returned in early 1984 when [[Valentin Glushko]] was ordered by the Central Committee's Secretary for Space and Defense to orbit ''Mir'' by early 1986, in time for the [[27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|27th Communist Party Congress]].<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica"/> It was clear that the planned processing flow could not be followed and still make the 1986 launch date. It was decided on Cosmonaut's Day (April 12) to ship the flight model to [[Baikonur]] and conduct the systems testing and integration there. ''Mir'' arrived at the launch site on [[May 6]] [[1985]]. 1100 of 2500 cables required rework based on the results of tests to the ground test model at [[Khrunichev]]. In October ''Mir'' was rolled outside its [[cleanroom]]. The first launch attempt on [[February 16]] [[1986]] was scrubbed when the spacecraft communications failed. The second attempt on [[February 19]], [[1986]] at 21:28:23 UTC was successful, meeting the political deadline.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica"/> == Early existence == Due to the pressure to launch the station in such short order, mission planners were left without Soyuz spacecraft or modules to launch to the station at first. It was decided to launch [[Soyuz T-15]] on a dual mission to both ''Mir'' and [[Salyut 7]].<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica"> {{cite web | title = Mir complex | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/craft/mirmplex.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-16 }} </ref> [[Leonid Kizim]] and [[Vladimir Solovyov]] first docked with the Mir space station on [[March 15]], [[1986]]. During their nearly 51-day stay on ''Mir'', they brought the station online and checked its systems. They also unloaded two [[Progress spacecraft]] launched after their arrival, Progress-25 and Progress-26.<ref name="Manned Astronautics Soyuz-T15"> {{cite web | title = Spacecraft "Soyuz-T15" | publisher = Manned Astronautics | first = Alexander | last = Anikeev | authorlink = Alexander Anikeev | url = http://space.kursknet.ru/cosmos/english/machines/st15.sht | accessdate = 2007-04-16 }} </ref> On [[May 5]], [[1986]] they undocked from ''Mir'' for a day-long journey to Salyut-7. They spent 51 days there and gathered 400 kg of scientific material from Salyut 7 for return to ''Mir''. While Soyuz T-15 was at Salyut-7, the unmanned [[Soyuz TM-1]] arrived at the unoccupied ''Mir'' and remained for 9 days, testing the new [[Soyuz spacecraft#Soyuz-TM .281986-2003.29|Soyuz TM]]. Soyuz T-15 redocked with ''Mir'' on [[June 26]] and delivered the experiments and 20 instruments, including a multichannel [[spectrometer]]. The EO-1 crew spent their last 20 days on ''Mir'' conducting Earth observations before returning to earth on [[July 16]] [[1986]], leaving the new station unoccupied.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica mireo"> {{cite web | title = Mir EO-1 | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/flights/mireo1.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-18 }} </ref> [[Image:Mir 1987 configuration drawing.png|thumb|right|200px|''Mir's'' configuration after the arrival of Kvant-1 in 1987]] The second expedition to ''Mir'', Mir EO-2, launched on [[Soyuz TM-2]] on February 5, 1987. During their stay, the [[Kvant-1]] module was launched on [[March 30]], [[1987]]. It was the first, experimental version of a planned series of '37K' modules scheduled to be launched to ''Mir'' on the [[Soviet]] [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran space shuttle]]. Kvant-1 was originally planned to dock with [[Salyut 7]]; however, due to technical problems during its development, it was reassigned for ''Mir''. The module carried the first set of six gyroscopes for attitude control. The module also carried instruments for X-ray and ultraviolet astrophysical observation. {{See|Kvant-1}} [[Image:Mir-kvant.gif|thumb|left|200px|''Mir'' with Kvant-1 module and Soyuz TM-3]] The initial rendezvous of the Kvant-1 module with ''Mir'' on April 5th 1987 was troubled by the failure of the onboard control system. After the failure of the second attempt to dock, the onboard cosmonauts, [[Yuri Romanenko]] and [[Aleksandr Laveykin]], conducted a spacewalk to fix the problem. They found a trash bag between the module and the station, which prevented the docking. The bag was left in orbit after the departure of one of the cargo ships. They removed the bag and completed docking on April 12th.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica mireo2"> {{cite web | title = Mir EO-2 | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/flights/mireo2.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-18 }} </ref><ref name="RussianSpaceweb.com Kvant-1"> {{cite web | title = Spacecraft: Manned: Mir: Kvant-1 Module | publisher = RussianSpaceweb.com | first = Anatoly | last = Zak | authorlink = Anatoly Zak | url = http://www.russianspaceweb.com/mir_kvant.html | accessdate = 2007-04-16 }} </ref> The Soyuz TM-2 launch was the beginning of a string of 6 Soyuz launches and three long-duration crews between February 5, 1987 and April 27, 1989. This time period also saw the first international visitors to the station, [[Muhammed Faris]], [[Abdul Ahad Mohmand]] and [[Jean-Loup Chrétien]]. With the departure of Mir EO-4 on [[Soyuz TM-7]] April 27, 1989 the station was once again left unoccupied. == First expansion phase == {{See|Kvant-2}} The launch of [[Soyuz TM-8]] on [[September 5]], [[1989]] marked the beginning of the longest human presence in space to date. It also marked the beginning of ''Mir's'' second expansion. The [[Kvant-2]] and [[Kristall]] modules were now ready for launch. [[Alexander Viktorenko]] and [[Aleksandr Serebrov]] docked with ''Mir'' and brought the station out of its five-month hibernation. On [[September 29]] the cosmonauts installed equipment in the docking system in preparation for the arrival of Kvant 2, the first of the 20-ton add-on modules based on the [[TKS spacecraft]] from the [[Almaz]] program <ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica mireo5"> {{cite web | title = Mir EO-5 | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/flights/mireo5.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-19 }} </ref> [[Image:Mir Kvant 1-Base Block-Kvant 2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|''Mir'' following the arrival of [[Kvant-2]] in 1989.]] After a delay of 40 days due to problems with a batch of computer chips, Kvant-2 was launched on [[November 26]]. After problems deploying the craft's solar array and with the automated docking systems on both Kvant-2 and ''Mir'', Kvant-2 was docked manually on [[December 6]]. Kvant-2 added a second set of gyrodines to Mir. The module also carried the new life support systems for recycling water and generating oxygen on board ''Mir'', reducing its dependence on resupply from the ground. Kvant-2 also featured a large airlock with a one-meter hatch. A special backpack unit, an equivalent of the U.S. [[Manned Maneuvering Unit]], was located inside Kvant-2's airlock.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica mireo5"/><ref name="russianspaceweb.com Kvant-2">{{cite web | title = Spacecraft: Manned: Mir: Kvant-2 Module | publisher = RussianSpaceWeb.com | first = Anatoly | last = Zak | authorlink = Anatoly Zak | url = http://www.russianspaceweb.com/mir_kvant-2.html | accessdate = 2007-04-18 }} </ref> [[Image:Mir 1990 configuration drawing.png|thumb|left|200px|''Mir's'' configuration after the arrival of [[Kristall]] in 1990]] [[Soyuz TM-9]] launched Mir EO-6 crew members [[Anatoly Solovyev]] and [[Aleksandr Balandin]] on [[February 11]], [[1990]]. While docking, the EO-5 crew on board ''Mir'' saw that 3 [[thermal blankets]] on the Soyuz-TM 9 were loose, potentially creating problems on reentry. It was decided that this would be manageable. Their stay on board ''Mir'' saw the addition of the Kristall module. The module was launched on [[May 31]]. The first docking attempt on [[June 6]] was aborted due to an attitude control thruster failure. The Kristall module arrived at Mir’s front port on [[June 10]], and was relocated to the lateral port opposite Kvant-2 the next day, restoring the equilibrium of the complex. Due to the delay in the docking of Kristall, EO-6 was extended by 10 days to permit the activation of Kristall’s systems, and to accommodate the EVA to repair the loose thermal blankets on Soyuz-TM 9.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica mireo6"> {{cite web | title = Mir EO-6 | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/flights/mireo6.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-19 }} </ref> The Kristall module contained a number of furnaces for the creation of crystals in micro-gravity. Also on board was biotechnology research equipment, including a small greenhouse for plant cultivation experiments. The unit was equipped with a source of light and a feeding system. The module also contained equipment for astronomy observations. The main feature, however, was the two APAS-89 [[Androgynous Peripheral Attach System]] docking ports designed to be compatible with the [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] shuttle. Although they were never used with a Buran Shuttle, they were later used with the American Space Shuttle.<ref name="russianspaceweb.com Kristall">{{cite web | title = Spacecraft: Manned: Mir: Kristall Module | publisher = RussianSpaceWeb.com | first = Anatoly | last = Zak | authorlink = Anatoly Zak | url = http://www.russianspaceweb.com/mir_kristall.html | accessdate = 2007-04-18 }} </ref>{{See|Kristall}} The EO-7 relief crew arrived aboard [[Soyuz TM-10]] on [[August 3]] [[1990]]. The new crew arrived at ''Mir'' with [[quail]] for Kvant-2's cages. A quail laid an egg en route to the station. It was returned to Earth, along with 130 kg of experiment results and industrial products, in Soyuz TM-9.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica mireo6"/> Three more expeditions continued to visit ''Mir'' while tensions back on Earth grew. The Mir EO-10 crew launched aboard [[Soyuz TM-13]] on [[October 2]] [[1991]] was the last crew to launch from the USSR, and continued the occupation of ''Mir'' through the fall of the [[Soviet Union]]. The unlaunched modules, [[Spektr]] and [[Priroda]], were not so lucky. The newly formed [[Russian Federal Space Agency]] was unable to finance them and they were put into storage, ending ''Mir's'' first expansion.<ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica mireo10"> {{cite web | title = Mir EO-10 | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/flights/mireo10.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-19 }} </ref><ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica Spektr"> {{cite web | title = Spektr | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/craft/spektr.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-21 }} </ref><ref name="Encyclopedia Astronautica Priroda"> {{cite web | title = Priroda | publisher = Encyclopedia Astronautica | first = Mark | last = Wade | authorlink = Mark Wade | url = http://www.astronautix.com/craft/priroda.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-21 }} </ref> == International cooperation == [[Image:mirdream sts76.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Mir is seen orbiting about 350 kilometres above [[New Zealand]].]] {{main|Shuttle-Mir Program}} In September 1993 U.S. Vice-President [[Al Gore]] and Russian prime minister [[Viktor Chernomyrdin]] announced plans for a new space station, which would later be called the [[International Space Station]], or ISS. They also agreed that, in preparation for this new project, the U.S. would be involved in the Mir project in the years ahead, under the code name Phase One (the ISS being Phase Two). Space shuttles would take part in the transport of supplies and people to and from ''Mir'', and American astronauts would live on ''Mir'' for many months on end, allowing the U.S. to share and learn from the unique experience that Russia had with long duration space flights. The U.S. involvement in the Mir program also brought new funds to ''Mir''. The most notable use of these was the completion and launch of the [[Spektr]] and [[Priroda]] modules. Also, the [[Mir Docking Module]] was constructed to make the process of docking the shuttle to the station easier. [[Image:Atlantis Docked to Mir.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The American Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' docked to the Russian ''Mir'' Space Station]] Starting in March 1995, seven U.S. astronauts spent 28 months on ''Mir''. During their stay several acute emergencies occurred, notably a small fire on [[February 23]], [[1997]], and a collision with an unmanned [[Progress spacecraft]] on [[June 25]], [[1997]]. The latter left a hole in the Spektr module, which was then sealed off from the rest of the station. On both occasions the necessity for complete evacuation using the Soyuz escape craft was narrowly avoided. Several [[space walk]]s were needed to restore full power to ''Mir'', and one of these was inside the Spektr module from which all the air had escaped. After the emergencies, the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] and [[NASA]] considered whether the U.S. should abandon the program out of concern for the astronauts' safety, but NASA administrator [[Daniel S. Goldin]] decided to continue the program. In June 1998, the final U.S. Mir astronaut [[Andy Thomas]] left the station aboard the Space Shuttle [[Space Shuttle Discovery|''Discovery'']]. Mir was originally planned to be followed by a Mir 2, and elements of that project are now an integral part of the International Space Station, including the core module (now called ''[[Zvezda (ISS)|Zvezda]]'') which was labeled as "Mir-2" for quite some time in the factory. == Life on Mir == {{Sectstub|date=May 2008}} [[Image:Moonmir sts91 big.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Mir and the [[Moon]], two satellites of the Earth]] Inside, the 100-ton Mir looked like a cramped [[labyrinth]], crowded with hoses, cables and scientific instruments &mdash; as well as articles of everyday life, such as photos, children's drawings, books and a guitar. It commonly housed three crew members, but it sometimes supported as many as six for up to a month. Except for two short periods, Mir was continuously occupied until August 1999. Two amateur radio call signs, U1MIR and U2MIR, were assigned to Mir in the late 1980s, allowing radio operators on Earth to communicate with the cosmonauts.<ref>[http://users.tellurian.com/gjurrens/astrohams.html Astronaut Hams] Astronaut Hams</ref> [[Peter Rodney Llewellyn|Peter Llewellyn]] almost visited Mir in 1999 after promising [[United States dollar|US$]]100 million for the privilege.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/353467.stm No Mir flight for British businessman] BBC News: May 27, 1999</ref> == Final days and deorbit == [[Image:Mir reentry photo.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Mir space station breaking up in Earth's atmosphere over the South Pacific on [[March 23]], [[2001]].]] Near the end of its life, there were plans for private interests to purchase Mir, possibly for use as the first orbital [[television studio|television]]/[[movie studio]]. The privately-funded [[Soyuz TM-30]] mission, launched on [[April 4]], [[2000]], carried two crew members, [[Sergei Zalyotin]] and [[Alexandr Kaleri]], to the station for two months to do repair work with the hope of proving that the station could be made safe. But this was to be the last manned mission to Mir. While Russia was optimistic about Mir's future, its commitments to the [[International Space Station]] project left no funding to support the aging Mir. Mir's deorbit was done in three stages. The first stage was waiting for [[Drag (physics)|atmospheric drag]] to [[Orbital decay|decay Mir’s orbit]] an average of {{km to mi|220|precision=0}}. This began with the docking of [[Progress spacecraft|Progress M1-5]], a modified version of the Progress M carrying 2.5 times more fuel in place of supplies. The second stage was the transfer of the station into a 165 x 220&nbsp;km (103&nbsp;x&nbsp;137&nbsp;mi) orbit. This was achieved with two burns of the Progress M1-5's control engines at 00:32 UTC and 02:01 UTC on [[March 23]], [[2001]]. After a two-orbit pause, the third and final stage of Mir's deorbit began with the burn of Progress M1-5's control engines and main engine at 05:08 UTC, lasting a little over 22 minutes. [[Reentry]] into [[Earth's atmosphere]] (100&nbsp;km/60&nbsp;mi) of the 15-year-old space station occurred at 05:44 UTC near [[Nadi]], [[Fiji]]. Major destruction of the station began around 05:52 UTC and the unburned fragments fell into the South [[Pacific Ocean]] around 06:00 UTC.<ref name="Reentry News"> {{cite web | title = The Final Days of Mir | publisher = The Aerospace Corporation | url = http://www.reentrynews.com/Mir/sequence.html | accessdate = 2007-04-16 }}</ref> <ref name="Reentry Page"> {{cite web | title = Mir Space Station Reentry Page | publisher = Space Online | url = http://www.ik1sld.org/mirreentry_page.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-16 }}</ref> In anticipation of the reentry of Mir, the owners of [[Taco Bell]] towed a large target out into the Pacific Ocean. If the target was hit by a falling piece of Mir, every person in the United States would be entitled to a free Taco Bell taco. The company bought a sizable insurance policy for this "gamble."<ref>[http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=4152 Taco Bell press release] [[March 19]], [[2001]]</ref> No piece of the station struck the target. NASA created an [http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/imagery/videos/mirdeorbit.mpg animation of the Mir deorbit]. == Support craft == [[Image:Soyuz acoplada MIR.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Space Shuttle Atlantis out-the-window view showing a Soyuz spacecraft docked with ''Mir'']] The Mir space station was primarily supported by the Russian [[Soyuz spacecraft|Soyuz]] and [[Progress spacecraft]]. Soyuz craft provided manned access to and from the station, allowing for crew rotations. Soyuz craft also functioned as a lifeboat for the station, allowing for a relatively quick return to earth in the event of an emergency. The unmanned Progress cargo vehicles were only used to resupply the station and were incapable of surviving reentry. [[Image:Atlantis-MIR-GPN-2000-001071.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis departing the ''Mir''.]]It was anticipated that it would also be the destination for flights by the later-abandoned [[Shuttle Buran|Buran]] space shuttle. The [[Kristall]] module even carried two APAS-89 [[Androgynous Peripheral Attach System]] docking ports designed to be compatible with the Buran shuttle. These were later used with the American [[Space Shuttle]]. During the [[Shuttle-Mir Program|''Shuttle-Mir Program'']], ''Mir'' was also supported by Space Shuttles, allowing American and other western astronauts to visit or stay long-term on the station. The visiting US shuttles used a modified docking collar originally designed for the Soviet [[Shuttle Buran|Buran]] shuttle, mounted on a bracket originally designed for use with [[Space Station Freedom]]. A [[Mir Docking Module|Docking Module]] was later added to the end of Kristall to eliminate the need to move the module and retract solar arrays for clearance issues. The shuttles provided crew rotation of the U.S. astronauts on station as well as carrying cargo to and from the station, performing some of the largest transfers of cargo of the time. With a space shuttle docked to Mir the temporary enlargements of living and working areas amounted to a complex that was the largest [[spacecraft]] in history at that time, with a combined mass of 275 [[Short ton|tons]] (227&nbsp;metric tonnes). == Mir modules == The Mir space station was constructed by connecting seven different modules, each launched into orbit separately by a [[Proton rocket]], except for the ''Docking Module'', which was brought to ''Mir'' by a [[Space Shuttle]]. {| id="module more info" align="center" style="text-align:center; border: {{{border-s|1}}}px solid {{{border-c|#ffc9c9}}}; background-color:{{{background|#FFFFF3}}}" |- padding:1em;padding-top:0.5em;" |''For more information about the modules, visit the module pages linked on the table below.'' |} {| border="1" cellpadding="4" align="center" cellspacing="0" style="background: #f9f9f9; color: black; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;" |- bgcolor="#efefef" ! Module ! Launch Date ! Launch vehicle ! Docking Date ! Mass ! [[Soyuz program|Soyuz]] ! Purpose ! Isolated view ! ''Mir'' Configuration ! Photo |- | [[Mir Core Module|Core]] | [[February 19]], [[1986]] | [[Proton rocket|Proton 8K82K]] | N/A | {{Kg to lb|20100|abbr=yes}} | N/A | Main station living quarters, core of entire station to which all other modules were docked. | [[Image:Mir base block drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir base block drawing.png|80px]] | <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Mir Core Module.JPG|80px]] --> |- | [[Kvant-1]] | [[March 31]], [[1987]] | [[Proton rocket|Proton 8K82K]] | ~[[April 9]], [[1987]] | {{Kg to lb|10000|abbr=yes}} | [[Soyuz TM-2|TM-2]] | [[Astronomy|Astronomical]] observations and Material Science experiments. | [[Image:Kvant module drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir 1987 configuration drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir-kvant.gif|80px]] |- | [[Kvant-2]] | [[November 26]], [[1989]] | [[Proton rocket|Proton 8K82K]] | [[December 6]], [[1989]] | {{Kg to lb|19640|abbr=yes}} | [[Soyuz TM-8|TM-8]] | Newer, more sophisticated life support systems, extra scientific experiments and an airlock. | [[Image:Kvant 2 module drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir 1989 configuration drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir Kvant 1-Base Block-Kvant 2.jpg|80px]] |- | [[Kristall]] | [[May 31]], [[1990]] | [[Proton rocket|Proton 8K82K]] | [[June 10]], [[1990]] | {{Kg to lb|19640|abbr=yes}} | [[Soyuz TM-9|TM-9]] | Technology, material processing, [[geophysics]] and [[astrophysics]] laboratory. | [[Image:Kristall module drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir 1990 configuration drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir - February 1995.jpg|80px]] |- | [[Spektr]] | [[May 20]], [[1995]] | [[Proton rocket|Proton 8K82K]] | [[June 1]], [[1995]] | {{Kg to lb|19640|abbr=yes}} | [[Soyuz TM-21|TM-21]] | Housed experiments for the [[Shuttle-Mir Program]]. | [[Image:Spektr module drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir June 2 1995 configuration drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:STS-74 Mir.jpg|80px]] |- | [[Mir Docking Module|Docking Module]] | [[November 12]], [[1995]] | [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' ]] ([[STS-74]]) | [[November 15]], [[1995]] | {{Kg to lb|6134|abbr=yes}} | [[Soyuz TM-22|TM-22]] | Used as a docking port for the American [[Space Shuttle]] during the [[Shuttle-Mir Program]]. | [[Image:Mir Docking Module drawing.png|80px]] | | [[Image:Mirdream sts76.jpg|80px]] |- | [[Priroda]] | [[April 23]], [[1996]] | [[Proton rocket|Proton 8K82K]] | [[April 26]], [[1996]] | {{Kg to lb|19000|abbr=yes}} | [[Soyuz TM-23|TM-23]] | Remote Earth sensing module. | [[Image:Priroda module drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir May 7 1996 configuration drawing.png|80px]] | [[Image:Mir on 12 June 1998edit1.jpg|80px]] |} == Expeditions, spacewalks and crews == * [[List of Mir Expeditions]] * [[List of Mir spacewalks]] * [[List of spacecraft and crews that visited Mir]] {{see also|List of spacewalks|Kerim Kerimov}} == Further reading == [[Image:Unity-Zarya-Zvezda STS-106.jpg|thumb|right|250px| ''Mir'''s Legacy - The core modules of the [[International Space Station]], Phase Two of the ISS program.]] The story of Phase One is described in great detail by Bryan Burrough in his book Dragonfly: NASA and the Crisis Aboard Mir (1998). == In popular culture == * The station plays a prominent role as a refueling depot in the 1998 film ''[[Armageddon (film)|Armageddon]]''. Shown larger than its real life counterpart and referred to simply as the "Russian Space Station," it was destroyed in the film following a fuel leak. * The station serves a minor role as a refuge for S.R. Hadden in the 1997 film adaptation of ''[[Contact (film)|Contact]]''. * Businessman [[Peter Rodney Llewellyn|Peter Llewellyn]] almost got a ride on Mir in 1999 after promising [[United States dollar|US$]]100 million for the privilege. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/353467.stm No Mir flight for British businessman] BBC News: May 27, 1999</ref> * In the fictional game setting [[World of Darkness]] by White Wolf Publishing, Mir is the site of a [[Black Spiral Dancer]] [[Caern]], serving as a direct portal to [[Malfeas]]. * In the ''[[South Park]]'' episode "[[Pinkeye (South Park episode)|Pinkeye]]", [[Kenny McCormick|Kenny's]] first death in the episode results from Mir crashing onto him. All the people inside also have died as well during the crashing. The episode originally aired about 3 ½ years before the actual de-orbiting. * In ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace]]", Homer has a flashback of himself sabotaging Mir<ref name=5F21>Simpsons episode [http://www.snpp.com/episodes/5F21 5F21]</ref>, and in "[[The Great Money Caper]]" the Simpsons family car is hit by a sturgeon from the space station <ref name=CABF03>Simpsons episode [http://www.snpp.com/episodes/CABF03 CABF03]</ref>. * In the 1999 movie ''[[Virus (1999 film)|Virus]]'', an alien lifeform invades Mir. * In the short story "Above it All" by "[[Robert J. Sawyer]]" an American astronaut boards Mir to recover the corpse of a Russian cosmonaut. * In the [[User Friendly]] comic strip, Erwin, an Artificial Intelligence program, was transferred to and inhabited Mir for a period of time. * In the [[BBC]] sci-fi series [[Bugs (TV series)|Bugs]], footage of the Mir space station was used to depict a space based laser cannon. * In [[Showtime]]'s series [[Dead Like Me]], the protagonist of the show, [[Georgia Lass|George]], was killed by a [[toilet seat]] that fell from the de-orbiting Mir. * In the Pournelle/Niven novel, ''[[Footfall]]'', a combined USSR/American crew is aboard Mir when it is taken over by the invading aliens. In ''[[Fallen Angels (science fiction novel)|Fallen Angels]]'' (Pournelle/Niven/Barnes), Mir and the then-proposed American space station Freedom have combined to create a single habitat for the break-away culture of astronauts and cosmonauts. == References == {{reflist|2}} ==Sources== *[http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/RP1357.pdf Mir Hardware Heritage - NASA report (PDF format)] *[http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/TP-1998-208920.pdf Mir Mission Chronicle - NASA report (PDF format)] *[http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/history/shuttle-mir/references/documents/phase1-joint-report.pdf Mir-Shuttle:Phase 1 Program Joint Report (PDF format)] *[http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19870012563_1987012563.pdf Soviet Space Stations as Analogs - NASA report (PDF format)] == External links == {{commonscat|Mir}} {{wikisource|Mir Hardware Heritage}} {{wikisource|Mir Mission Chronicle}} *[http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/StationsMir/Mir.php Mir Diary] * [http://www.russianspaceweb.com/mir.html Site contains detailed diagrams, pictures and background info] * [http://www.astronautix.com/craft/mirodule.htm Site describes the Mir-Shuttle Docking Module] * [http://www.jamesoberg.com/05181998mirmisinfo_mir.html Site contains information on problems aboard Mir] {{start box}} {{succession box | before=[[Salyut|Salyut program]] | title=Mir program | years=1986&ndash;2001 | after=[[International Space Station]]}} {{end box}} {{Mir modules}} {{Russian manned space programs}} {{US manned space programs}} {{Space stations}} {{Shuttle-Mir}} [[Category:Mir]] [[Category:Space stations]] [[Category:Manned spacecraft]] [[Category:Russian loanwords]] [[ar:المحطة الفضائية مير]] [[bs:Mir (svemirska stanica)]] [[bg:Мир (орбитална станция)]] [[ca:Mir (estació espacial)]] [[cs:Mir]] [[da:Mir (rumstation)]] [[de:Mir (Raumstation)]] [[et:Mir (orbitaaljaam)]] [[el:Μιρ]] [[es:MIR (estación espacial)]] [[eo:Kosmostacio Mir]] [[fa:ایستگاه فضایی میر]] [[fr:Mir (station spatiale)]] [[fy:Mir]] [[ko:미르]] [[hr:Mir (svemirska stanica)]] [[id:Mir]] [[it:Mir]] [[he:מיר]] [[ka:მირი (ორბიტული სადგური)]] [[lt:Mir]] [[hu:Mir]] [[nl:Mir (ruimtestation)]] [[ja:ミール]] [[no:Mir]] [[nn:Mir]] [[pl:Mir (stacja orbitalna)]] [[pt:Mir]] [[ru:Мир (орбитальная станция)]] [[si:මීර් අභ්‍යවකාශ මධ්‍යස්ථානය]] [[simple:Mir]] [[sk:Mir]] [[sl:Mir (vesoljska postaja)]] [[sh:Mir (svemirska stanica)]] [[fi:Mir]] [[sv:Mir]] [[ta:மீர்]] [[th:สถานีอวกาศมีร์]] [[vi:Trạm vũ trụ Hòa Bình]] [[tg:Мир]] [[tr:Mir]] [[zh:和平號太空站]]