Mir Re-entry

After fifteen years of operations, Mir was finally closed down and 'demolished' in 2001. It was launched in 1986 with a projected lifetime of five years. This was extended to ten years as modules were added and systems continued to operate, albeit with some repairs. As the Soviet Union disintegrated, Mir continued to operate but its systems were ageing and construction of the International Space Station was starting. Finally, after 15 years, it had reached the end of its sustainable life.

As the planned date for controlled re-entry approached, Russia was providing information about anticipated events but it was lacking detail in some areas. This section contains three articles.

The first is an analysis of the Progress M1-3 controlled re-entry, a starting point for working out the likely scenario for Mir.

The second is a first stab at the likely scenario based on early information provided by Russia about three months before the event. It was originally published on the Zarya web site 2001 January.

The final page is a refinement of the earlier analysis. Some of it was published here a few days before the event but it includes contemporary information on the actual re-entry that was added as the event occurred. The accuracy of the analysis was supported when eyewitness accounts of the event were forthcoming from Fiji. Maps from this article were reproduced in the Japanese science magazine "Newton" to illustrate its own coverage of the event.

	Mir Re-entry	Lincoln, UK 2010 Feb 9, UTC Tuesday
Maintained by: Robert Christy FBIS Contact: Zarya Home Page Satellite Tracking Home End of Mir Progress M1-3 Re-entry First Analysis 2000 Nov Second Analysis 2001 Jan	2001 - The Event After fifteen years of operations, Mir was finally closed down and 'demolished' in 2001. It was launched in 1986 with a projected lifetime of five years. This was extended to ten years as modules were added and systems continued to operate, albeit with some repairs. As the Soviet Union disintegrated, Mir continued to operate but its systems were ageing and construction of the International Space Station was starting. Finally, after 15 years, it had reached the end of its sustainable life. As the planned date for controlled re-entry approached, Russia was providing information about anticipated events but it was lacking detail in some areas. This section contains three articles. The first is an analysis of the Progress M1-3 controlled re-entry, a starting point for working out the likely scenario for Mir. The second is a first stab at the likely scenario based on early information provided by Russia about three months before the event. It was originally published on the Zarya web site 2001 January. The final page is a refinement of the earlier analysis. Some of it was published here a few days before the event but it includes contemporary information on the actual re-entry that was added as the event occurred. The accuracy of the analysis was supported when eyewitness accounts of the event were forthcoming from Fiji. Maps from this article were reproduced in the Japanese science magazine "Newton" to illustrate its own coverage of the event.	Radio Frequencies Frequency lists, transmission details Satellite Tracking Techniques, analysis and results of tracking activities Zarya Diaries Consolidation of individual mission diaries from the site (and more!) Orbital Events Ongoing Calendar of comings and goings in space The Kettering Group People, reminiscences and tracking equipment Sputnik Korolyov's efforts in getting the first satellite into orbit Luna The Soviet Union's programme of automatic exploration Vostok First pilot to orbit the Earth Voskhod Soviet programme to put multiple passengers into space Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 First docking in orbit of piloted spacecraft ASTP First docking of piloted spacecraft from different nations Salyut Chronology of missions to the first space stations Mir Detailed calendar of launches and activities in orbit ISS Mission calendar for the early years