This is a view of the Russian Mir Space Station photographed by a crewmember of the fifth Shuttle/Mir docking mission, STS-81. The image shows: upper center - Progress supply vehicle, Kvant-1 module, and Core module; center left - Priroda module; center right - Spektr module; bottom left - Kvant-2 module; bottom center - Soyuz; and bottom right - Kristall module and Docking module. The Progress was an unmarned, automated version of the Soyuz crew transfer vehicle, designed to resupply the Mir. The Kvant-1 provided research in the physics of galaxies, quasars, and neutron stars, by measuring electromagnetic spectra and x-ray emissions. The Core module served as the heart of the space station and contained the primary living and working areas, life support, and power, as well as the main computer, communications, and control equipment. Priroda's main purpose was Earth remote sensing. The Spektr module provided Earth observation. It also supported research into biotechnology, life sciences, materials science, and space technologies. American astronauts used the Spektr as their living quarters. Kvant-2 was a scientific and airlock module, providing biological research, Earth observations, and EVA (extravehicular activity) capability. The Soyuz typically ferried three crewmembers to and from the Mir. A main purpose of the Kristall module was to develop biological and materials production technologies in the space environment. The Docking module made it possible for the Space Shuttle to dock easily with the Mir. The journey of the 15-year-old Russian Mir Space Station ended March 23, 2001, as the Mir re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and fell into the south Pacific Ocean.

This is a view of the Russian Mir Space Station photographed by a crewmember of the second Shuttle/Mir docking mission, STS-74. The image shows: top - Progress supply vehicle, Kvant-1 module, and the Core module; middle left - Spektr module; middle center - Kristall module and Docking module; middle right - Kvant-2 module; and bottom - Soyuz. The Progress was an unmarned, automated version of the Soyuz crew transfer vehicle, designed to resupply the Mir. The Kvant-1 provided research in the physics of galaxies, quasars, and neutron stars by measuring electromagnetic spectra and x-ray emissions. The Core module served as the heart of the space station and contained the primary living and working areas, life support, and power, as well as the main computer, communications, and control equipment. The Spektr module provided Earth observation. It also supported research into biotechnology, life sciences, materials science, and space technologies. American astronauts used the Spektr as their living quarters. A main purpose of the Kristall module was to develop biological and materials production technologies in the space environment. The Docking module made it possible for the Space Shuttle to dock easily with the Mir. Kvant-2 was a scientific and airlock module, providing biological research, Earth observations, and EVA (extravehicular activity) capability. The Soyuz typically ferried three crewmembers to and from the Mir. The journey of the 15-year-old Russian Mir Space Station ended March 23, 2001, as the Mir re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and fell into the south Pacific Ocean.

NM23-48-003 (29 April 1997) --- Cosmonaut Vasili V. Tsibliyev, Mir-23 commander, operates at the end of the Russian Mir Space Station’s STRELA boom during a space walk on April 29, 1997. He was joined by United States astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, cosmonaut guest researcher, in an effort to deploy scientific instruments and retrieve other science hardware. At the lower left of the picture is the Kvant-1 module. Hovering above it is the Sofora tower, which was once used for an experiment in attitude control of the Mir.

NM23-48-009 (29 April 1997) --- United States astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, cosmonaut guest researcher, works outside the Russian Mir Space Station during a joint United States-Russian space walk on April 29, 1997. He was joined by Mir-23 commander Vasili V. Tsibliyev (out of frame) for the five-hour Extravehicular Activity (EVA) designed to deploy scientific instruments and retrieve other science hardware. At the top of the frame is a Russian Progress re-supply capsule docked to the Mir’s Kvant-1 module.

NM23-48-009 (29 April 1997) --- United States astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, cosmonaut guest researcher, works outside the Russian Mir Space Station during a joint United States-Russian space walk on April 29, 1997. He was joined by Mir-23 commander Vasili V. Tsibliyev (out of frame) for the five-hour Extravehicular Activity (EVA) designed to deploy scientific instruments and retrieve other science hardware. At the top of the frame is a Russian Progress re-supply capsule docked to the Mir’s Kvant-1 module.