The Mir space station has seen its last crew. Here it is pictured, docked to a United States shuttle.
Click on image for full size
Courtesy of NASA
Russians Say Good-Bye to Mir
News story originally written on August 30, 1999
After 13 years of ruling space, the Mir space station will finally say good-bye. Its last crew has landed on Earth, which means the station is empty for the first time in 10 years.
Next year, Russian scientists will guide the station slowly down into Earth's atmosphere. Most of Mir will burn up, but some pieces will reach Earth. So, they plan to bring it down over the Pacific Ocean.
Some people are trying to save the spacecraft. But the government is out of money, and scientists can't raise $100 million to keep it going.
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