RUSSIAN SPACE STATION MIR

LAUNCH OF MIR'S BASE BLOCK

Feb 20, 1986

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/mir/mir.htmMir's base block, the core module, was the heart of the space station. It contained a living quarters and working area that was only 14.3 yards long. The base block maintained tempatures from 64 degress to 82 degress.

LAUNCH OF KVANT 1

Mar 31, 1987

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/mir/mir.htmKvant 1 was the first module that was added to Mir. Kvant 1 was connected to Mir at its docking port. It supported studies of galaxies, neutron stars and quasars. It measured 4.8 by 6.8 yards long.

LAUNCH OF KVANT II

Nov 26, 1989

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/mir/mir.htmKvant II was a airlock and scientific module. Kvant II added water and oxygen provisions. It was the first module equipped with an arm to move modules after they have docked with Mir.

LAUNCH OF KRISTALL

May 31, 1990

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/mir/mir.htmKristall means "crystal". It supported material and biological production. It also supported technical and astrophysical experiments.

LAUNCH OF SPEKTR

May 1, 1995

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/mir/mir.htmSpektr monitered Earth's natural reasourses. It was used for living quarters for American astronauts. It also had solar panels to boost power in the space station.

LAUNCH OF THE DOCKING MODULE

Nov 15, 1995

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/mir/mir.htmThe docking module was added to Mir to make it easier for space craft to dock with Mir. It was attached to the Kristall module so spacecraft could easily dock with Mir without hitting the station's solar panels.

LAUNCH OF PRIRODA

Apr 26, 1996

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/mir/mir.htm Priroda means "nature". This module's purpose was to study the weather and enviorment. It was the last module added to Mir.

FALL OF MIR

Mar 23, 2001

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MirMir burned up in Earth's atmosphere after 15 years in orbit. Some pieces fell into the South Pacific Ocean. Mir lived many years in orbit and carried out many missons, that is why it is so remarkable.