The Russian Space Capsule, also known as MIR, was a spacecraft developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. It was the first modular space station and was used for a variety of missions, including long-term habitation, scientific research, and satellite launches. MIR was in operation from 1986 to 2001 and was visited by astronauts from many countries. It was decommissioned in 2001 and re-entered Earth's atmosphere in 2001.