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| | | | | | | Farewell to Mir
Mir space station over New Zealand
23 March 2001
Russia's Mir space station re-entered the Earth's atmosphere exactly as predicted just after 09:00 Moscow time (07:00 Central European Time). The final series of burns went according to plan, bringing the station down in the predicted splashdown zone in the South Pacific.
The final, 20-minute burn started over the Mediterranean bringing Mir down in the South Pacific between New Zealand and Chile in the planned splashdown footprint centred around 44 degrees south and 160 degrees west. Keen space watchers gathered on Fiji's beaches were treated to a golden firework display.
An unprecedented number of specialists, dignatories and journalists gathered at Moscow's mission control centre to observe the final hours of the space station. It was a solemn moment as the last signal from Mir came up on the screen at 08:30 Moscow time (06:30 CET).
"Mir's safe return to Earth has been executed safely and accurately - a fitting end to its impressive record. We expected no less from our efficient Russian colleagues and look forward to the new era, working together on the International Space Station" said Frank Longhurst of ESA's Manned Spaceflight Directorate speaking from Moscow mission control.
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| | Related news Honourable discharge for Mir space stationMir FAQs - Facts and historyMir FAQs - About the re-entryMir FAQs - Safety issuesRelated links Mir de-orbit final status report TsUPRussian Space Agency (RKA)Russian Space Research Institute Mir re-entry animation
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