# Mir

> 1986–2001 modular space station in low Earth orbit

**Wikidata**: [Q48604](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48604)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mir

## Summary
Mir was a modular space station in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, operated first by the Soviet Union and later by Russia. It served as a research outpost for scientific experiments and demonstrated long-term human habitation in space. Mir was the first space station designed for continuous occupation, setting records for crew stays and international collaboration.

## Key Facts
- **Operational Period**: February 19, 1986 – March 23, 2001.
- **Mass**: 129,700 kilograms (fully assembled).
- **Crew Capacity**: Up to 3 astronauts/cosmonauts.
- **Orbital Period**: 91.9 minutes at an altitude of ~400 km.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-K rocket (core module launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome).
- **Dimensions**: 19 meters (length) × 31 meters (width) × 27.5 meters (height).
- **Affiliation**: Operated by the Soviet Union (1986–1991) and Russia (1991–2001).
- **COSPAR ID**: 1986-017A.
- **Orbits Completed**: 86,331 before deorbiting.

## FAQs
### Q: How long was Mir operational?
A: Mir operated for 15 years, from its launch in 1986 to its controlled deorbit in 2001, far exceeding its original 5-year design life.

### Q: What was Mir used for?
A: Mir primarily functioned as a microgravity research laboratory, conducting experiments in biology, physics, and astronomy, while also testing long-term space habitation.

### Q: Why was Mir deorbited?
A: Mir was intentionally deorbited on March 23, 2001, disintegrating over the Pacific Ocean to prevent uncontrolled re-entry and potential damage from falling debris.

## Why It Matters
Mir played a pivotal role in advancing space exploration by proving the feasibility of long-term human presence in orbit. It fostered international cooperation, notably through the Shuttle-Mir program with NASA, which laid groundwork for the International Space Station (ISS). Mir’s modular design allowed incremental expansion, enabling complex scientific research and setting records for continuous occupation, including a 14-month stay by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov. Its legacy endures as a critical step in understanding prolonged spaceflight’s effects on humans and systems.

## Notable For
- **Modular Design**: First space station built incrementally via add-on modules (e.g., Kvant-1, Spektr).
- **Longest Continuous Occupation**: Held the record for the longest single spaceflight (437 days, 17 hours, 58 minutes).
- **International Collaboration**: Hosted astronauts from 11 countries, including U.S. astronauts as part of NASA’s preparation for the ISS.
- **First Privatized Space Asset**: Briefly considered for commercial use after Russian funding dwindled, though the plan was abandoned.

## Body
### Launch and Deployment
- **Core Module**: Launched February 19, 1986, aboard a Proton-K rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.
- **Modules**: Expanded over 10 years with six additional modules (Kvant-1, Kvant-2, Kristall, Spektr, Priroda, Docking Module), totaling 350 cubic meters of pressurized volume.

### Specifications
- **Orbit**: Low Earth orbit (LEO) at 51.6° inclination.
- **Power**: Solar arrays generating up to 42 kW (average 20–26 kW).
- **Volume**: 350 cubic meters (habitable space).

### Operations and Legacy
- **Crews**: Hosted 28 long-duration crews, including 10 U.S. astronauts.
- **Deorbit**: Intentionally re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on March 23, 2001, after 15 years and 252 days in orbit.
- **Successor**: Its operational experience directly influenced ISS design and operations.

### International Collaboration
- **Shuttle-Mir Program** (1995–1998): NASA Space Shuttles docked 11 times, testing systems and protocols later used on the ISS.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SpaceStation",
  "name": "Mir",
  "description": "1986–2001 modular space station in low Earth orbit",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27586",
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mir"
  ],
  "additionalType": ["SpaceLaboratory", "ArtificialSatellite"],
  "manufacturer": ["Soviet Union", "Russia"],
  "dateLaunched": "1986-02-19",
  "mass": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "unitText": "kilogram",
    "value": 129700
  },
  "cosparDesignator": "1986-017A"
}

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. BabelNet
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
6. KBpedia