The term 'Erstwhile Orbiter' refers to the Russian space station Mir, which was in operation from 1986 to 2001. It was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996. Mir was the longest-serving space station of its time and was visited by a total of 28 long-duration crews. It was also the first consistently inhabited long-term research station in space, and its operations paved the way for the International Space Station.