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Soyuz and MIR space station. Model of a Soyuz spacecraft (black, upper right) docked with the MIR space station (white). The Soviet Union's Mir Space station was launched by the USSR in February 1986 and spent 15 years in orbit around the Earth, being used to carry out numerous scientific experiments. It was de-orbited on 23rd March 2001, resulting in its break-up over the Pacific Ocean. Photographed at the Deutsche Space Exhibition, Morgenrothe-Rautenkranz, Germany. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)