Russia launched what may be the final crew to inhabit the Mir space station, 13 years after the launch of first core module. The Soyuz TM29 was lifted off on a Soyuz U booster from Baikonur on 20 February and docked with the station on 22 February.
The crew comprises veteran commander Viktor Afanasyev, two-time French cosmonaut Jean-Pierre Haignere and Ivan Bella, the first Slovak in space. Afanasyev and Haignere will remain on the Mir for its predicted lifetime, with resident flight engineer Sergei Avdeyev, while Bella and the original commander, Gennadi Padalka, were due to return on 1 March.
Attempts by the Russian Space Agency to find private funds to continue Mir operations appear to have floundered and it now seems likely that the Mir will be de-orbited later this year.
Source: Flight International
