Press release 

February 20 2001 09:00 (Moscow time)

Today is 15 years since Orbital Complex "Mir" first module (its core module) was launched.It was delivered to Earch orbit by "Proton" which lifted off form the launch pad in Baikonur at 00:28:23 Moscow time.

Being comprised of one core module OC "Mir" was fully operational and ready to provide the necessary environment for extended human presence in space.

"Priroda" module attached to the "Mir" Orbital Complex in 1996 was the last to complete the orbital facility assembly. "Kvant" module was added to the Orbital Complex in 1987, "Kvant-2" in 1989, "Kristal" in 1990, "Spektr" together with the docking compartment in 1995. Currently, the cargo craft "Progress M1-5" launched on Jan 24 2001 docked the Orbital Complex on Jan 27 2001, it is still in orbit as part of the Station. 

The OC "MIr" and the cargo ship operations scheduled for 19-20 Feb. complete. The onboars systems of the Station and the cargo ship checked out, the orbit monitoring performed.


The Station remains pressurized, the onboard systems perform norminal. The station keeps in spinning mode with the MCS in free drift.


The OC "Mir" and the cargo ship onboard systems check out and the orbit monitoring are scheduled for 20-21 feb 2001.