Russia Prepares to Bring Mir Back to Earth

Russia has begun final preparations to bring its aging Mir space station back to earth.

On Wednesday, technicians began equipping a cargo ship that will be sent to Mir early next year in order to bring down the 14-year-old orbiting outpost. News reports say the cargo ship will latch on to the unmanned orbiter and send it on its downward voyage.

Russia’s space agency says most of the space station will burn up in earth’s atmosphere and that any remaining debris will plunge into the Pacific Ocean 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers east of Australia. But officials also say some debris could fall on land because of variable conditions in the atmosphere.

NASA has urged Moscow to abandon Mir and focus instead on the new International Space Station, which involves Russia, the United States and 14 other countries.