Space: Mir Space Station

Source image: NASA/Wikicommons

Mir was a space station created by Soviet Union and later by Russia. It existed from 1984 to 23 March 2001. When complete, the station consisted of seven pressurised modules and several unpressurised components. Power was provided by several photovoltaic arrays mounted directly on the modules. The station was maintained at an orbit between 296 km (184 mi) and 421 km (262 mi) altitude and travelled at an average speed of 27,700 km/h (17,200 mph), completing 15.7 orbits per day. When it was retired, it moved towards the Earth and burned in its atmosphere.

(source: wikipedia, more images: wikicommons)