Mir Space Station

space · Soviet Union · microgravity · innovation

Built in pieces. Mir wasn't launched as one complete space station. Instead, different sections were launched separately and astronauts connected them together in orbit between 1986 and 1996, like building with cosmic LEGO blocks.

Home in space. For 15 years, astronauts lived aboard Mir, conducting experiments in biology, physics, and astronomy while floating in microgravity where things don't fall down.

Record holder. Mir was the biggest artificial object orbiting Earth until the International Space Station took over, showing that humans could build massive structures in space.

Science laboratory. Crews studied how the human body changes in space, tested new spacecraft systems, and observed Earth and stars from their unique floating home above the planet.

Legacy of exploration. Mir proved that humans could live and work in space for long periods, paving the way for the International Space Station and future missions beyond Earth.