1991-2000: THE APPLICATION YEARS

As the new millennium approached, work on Mir continued, but only just. The demise of the Soviet Union, the creation of a new Russia, and the independent development of former communist states left much uncertainty. Russia now had little funding available, even for the bare essentials, so there was precious little available for space exploration. The program was rapidly losing its popularity in the new Russia, with former Soviet space museums becoming nightclubs and unused hardware left to rust in unused playgrounds. The severe reduction in funding meant Mir was in serious trouble.

In the short term, foreign investment helped, with a series of commercially supported visiting missions supplementing (and, on occasion, joining) long – duration expeditions. But, in the long term, something had to occur to keep the program going. That “something” would come from across the Atlantic.