Last Astronauts Depart Mir Space Station

August 27,1999

The 13-year-old station saw off its final guests, two Russians and a Frenchman. Mir hosted 39 space missions during its lifespan, serving as home to 117 astronauts. Some stayed at Mir for only a week but Valeri Polyakov stayed 14 months. Although meant only for three crew members, Mir housed up to six astronauts during some missions.

When construction started on the International Space Station, Mir was deemed obsolete. It was deorbited in April, 2001, tumbling back into the atmosphere over Fiji.