[FPSPACE] Energia RSC: Mir operation can be further extended

[JamesOberg@aol.com]

PRESS RELEASE --  Energia RSC
Date Released: Friday, December 08, 2000

Russian Aviation and Space Agency Hosts Meeting of Transnational Committee on 
mission support and operation of MIR space station

This morning, Russian Aviation and Space Agency hosted a meeting of 
Transnational Committee on mission support and operation of MIR space station.
The meeting reviewed the results of activities under the space station flight 
test program for the period of 1986 - 2000.
It was noted that: 
·   All the activities envisaged in the flight test program for modular space 
station MIR which was approved in 1986 have been fully completed; 
·   Technologies for creating, deploying and operating permanently manned 
space stations have passed developmental tests; 
·   The research program has been completed; 
·   MIR space station operational life in orbit has exceeded the originally 
specified 5-year life in orbit by a factor of three. 

Taking into account the fact that MIR space station is in a fully operational 
condition, the Committee has confirmed that its operation can be further 
extended.