On this day in 1986, the Soviet Union opened a new chapter in space exploration with the successful launch of space station Mir, unveiling what was then the largest orbital station ever built. The event came just three weeks after the Challenger disaster in the United States, which claimed the lives of seven astronauts.
As the Communist Party prepared for its upcoming congress in Moscow, Mir was expected to be presented as evidence that the USSR was leading the peaceful development of space technology.
Meaning both “peace” and “world” in Russian, Mir was designed as the foundation for a permanently manned complex orbiting the Earth. It succeeded the long-running Salyut series, the last of which- Salyut 7, launched in April 1982- remained in orbit.
A station built for expansion
Unlike America’s Skylab, which had suffered damage on launch and ultimately proved too costly to maintain before falling back to Earth in 1979, the Soviet project introduced a more adaptable approach. Mir featured six docking stations, allowing additional modules or laboratories to attach over time and expand its scientific capabilities.
Soviet officials described the station as marking the shift from pure research to large-scale production activities in space.
The deputy head of the Soviet cosmonaut training centre, Alexei Leonov, said the station’s potential lifespan would become clear only after completing its first full flight. Cosmonauts began specialised training that included preparing for improved living conditions: separate cabins with windows, personal desks and armchairs — a notable upgrade from earlier stations.
Leonov explained that Salyut 7 no longer matched Soviet ambitions. With only two docking ports and space for a maximum crew of three, it could not support the new programme’s aims. Mir, by contrast, could accommodate six to ten people.
Scientific work in orbit
The first cosmonauts aboard Mir would continue materials-processing experiments begun on Salyut 6 and 7, while also carrying out Earth observation through high-powered cameras. Additional missions included helping locate mineral deposits and monitoring seas for fishing activity.
The launch of space station Mir laid the groundwork for more than a decade of continuous human presence aboard the station and cemented Mir’s role as a milestone in space history.
Also read: Stranded astronauts heading back to Earth after 9 months in space
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