The term 'HIGH FLIER UNTIL 2001' refers to the Russian space station Mir, which was a high-flying success until it was decommissioned in 2001. Mir was the first modular space station and was launched into orbit in 1986. It was visited by astronauts from many countries and was used for a variety of scientific experiments. The station was eventually deorbited and burned up in the Earth's atmosphere in 2001.