The planned controlled de-orbiting of the Mir space station will take place around 20 March, when atmospheric drag conditions are expected to be optimal for the manoeuvre.
Firings of the engine on the attached unmanned Progress tanker, over the Gulf of Guinea and the Caucasus, will induce the eventual re-entry over the Pacific Ocean.
The re-entry "does not have a 100% safety guarantee", says the Energia company which built Mir.
Mir will make a sharp descent over Japan at an altitude of 150km (95 miles). The 137t station will enter the Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific, north of New Zealand at an altitude of 60-70km.
During a 30km descent, Mir will break apart, with pieces burning up, although about 1,500 objects with a combined weight of 20-25t will survive and are expected to land in the ocean in a 6,000km long, 200km wide corridor between Australia and South America.
The Russian aviation and space agency, Rozaviacosmos has taken out undisclosed value third party insurance cover in the event of accidents.
Mir began life as a single module in March 1986 and during its life was manned permanently for two months short of 10 years.
Source: Flight International