The Russian Mir space station was a modular space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001. It was developed by the Soviet Union and served as a platform for scientific research, international cooperation, and long-duration human spaceflight. Mir was notable for its size and complexity, consisting of multiple interconnected modules. During its 15 years in orbit, Mir hosted numerous missions and astronauts from various countries, including the United States and European Space Agency. The station played a crucial role in advancing space technology and understanding the effects of long-term space travel on the human body.