Mir space station. View of the Russian space station Mir ('peace') in orbit over the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea with its solar panels fully arrayed. Mir was launched in February 1986. The space station originally consisted of a core module and docking facilities. A variety of science modules have since been added, increasing the Mir's mass from its original 21 tonnes to over 100 tonnes. This photograph was taken from Space Shuttle Atlantis which docked with the space station for the third time as part of mission STS- 76 during 22-31 March 1996. Part of the mission's purpose was to transport equipment and a new crew member, Shannon Lucid, from Earth to Mir.