MIR Manned Orbital Station was a multi-purpose International Center that for nearly 15 years was a world-unique space laboratory intended to check and validate the major utilization areas for future manned space stations and complexes ensuring an access of mankind to the wealth and mysteries of the Universe.

International research programs were implemented on the Station since 1987. Astronauts from France, Syria, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Japan, Great Britain, Germany, Kazakhstan, Austria, USA, Canada and country-members of the European Space Agency took part in the implementation of these programs directly aboard the Station.

Since 1995 through 1998 joint Russian-US activities under the MIR/Shuttle, MIR NASA program were conducted on the MIR Station.

The US, German, French, Austrian, Netherlandish, ESA and Russian research equipment was available aboard the Station.