Mir was a symbol of human ingenuity and international cooperation in space exploration. Launched by the Soviet Union in 1986, Mir served as a space station for over 15 years, hosting cosmonauts and astronauts from various nations. It was not just a scientific laboratory but also a testament to the potential for peaceful collaboration beyond Earth's atmosphere. It was notable as the first modular space station, paving the way for the construction and operation of larger space habitats in the future. Cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest single spaceflight in human history, spending a total of 437 days and 18 hours aboard the Mir space station.