# Mir Core Module

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First module of the Soviet/Russian Mir space station

DOS-7 Model of DOS-7 in an early configuration, docked with Kvant-1. Module statistics Part of Mir Launch date February 20, 1986 (UTC) Reentry March 23, 2001 (UTC) Mass 20,400 kg (45,000 lb) Length 13.13 m (43.1 ft) Diameter 4.5 m (15 ft) Pressurised volume 90 m3 (3,200 cu ft) Configuration Diagram of DOS-7 in its original configuration.

DOS-7 seen from [Space Shuttle](/source/Space_Shuttle) [*Atlantis*](/source/Space_Shuttle_Atlantis) during [STS-71](/source/STS-71) in 1995.

The ***Mir Core Module***, also known as the **Base Block** or **DOS-7**, was a module of the [Mir](/source/Mir) space station. It was the first module to be launched and operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 until its [de-orbiting in 2001](/source/Deorbit_of_Mir). The module was launched on a [Proton-K](/source/Proton-K) rocket[1] on February 20th, 1986.[2]

A spare of this module, originally designed for [Mir-2](/source/Mir-2), later became the [Zvezda](/source/Zvezda_(ISS_module)) module used on the [International Space Station](/source/International_Space_Station).

## Design

The *Mir Core Module* was based on the design of its predecessors from the [Salyut programme](/source/Salyut_programme), however, unlike the others, was designed as a habitation module, and thus housed less scientific equipment. Most importantly, it possessed a multi-port docking node on the forward end of the module. This experimental and revolutionary upgrade allowed the station to house an additional [five modules](/source/Mir#Pressurised_modules), allowing for greater expansion of the station capabilities. The multi-port docking node also had fixtures for the [Lyappa arm](/source/Lyappa_arm), which allowed for modules to move themselves around the station. Other changes included larger solar arrays twice the size of [Salyut 7](/source/Salyut_7)'s, made out of [gallium arsenide](/source/Gallium_arsenide) (rather than [silicon](/source/Silicon), as was used on Salyut 7's arrays) which saw a 30% improvement in power generation, greater automation and a new docking system, [Kurs](/source/Kurs_(docking_navigation_system)), in addition to the older [Igla](/source/Igla_(spacecraft_docking_system)) system. The station, like its predecessors, had an aft docking node intended for [Progress](/source/Progress_(spacecraft)) and [Soyuz](/source/Soyuz_(spacecraft)) dockings. It also retained its small airlock for science or rubbish disposal.[3]: 105

Additionally, certain features which were on prior Salyut stations were removed, such as the large imaging camera which had partially obstructed living area on previous stations was removed, allowing for a more comfortable living area.[3]

The interior of the module featured a two-toned appearance (designed by [Galina Balashova](/source/Galina_Balashova), who had previously designed interior decor for the [Soyuz](/source/Soyuz_(spacecraft)) spacecraft and Salyut stations[4]) as well as [fluorescent lighting](/source/Fluorescent_lamp), one lavatory, two sleeping cabins, exercise equipment, medical equipment and a command centre with television screens for communicating with the [RKA Mission Control Center](/source/RKA_Mission_Control_Center), as well as a new main on-board computer, being the Argon 16B.[3]: 105–106

The station also had two [liquid fuel](/source/Liquid_fuel) orbital-maneuvering engines located aft, capable of 300kg of thrust, though became inoperable when [Kvant-1](/source/Kvant-1) arrived to the station. [3]: 105–106

## History

The *Mir Core Module* was launched uncrewed on February 20th, 1986[2] and was first docked to and crewed by [Soyuz T-15](/source/Soyuz_T-15) which later visited [Salyut 7](/source/Salyut_7) after their stay on Mir, then later returned back to Mir.[5]

Inside the multiple docking node

On April 9th, 1987, [Kvant-1](/source/Kvant-1) soft-docked with the *Mir Core Module*, but due to an issue could not achieve a hard-dock until April 11th. Kvant-1 delivered an additional solar array which was mounted to the top of the *Mir Core Module* later in June.*[3]*: 111 It was the only module not designed with a propulsion system, nor a Lyappa arm as it was not originally planned to dock with the station.*[3]*: 162

Between the years of 1989 and 1996, the modules [Kvant-2](/source/Kvant-2), [Kristall](/source/Kristall), [Spektr](/source/Spektr) and [Priroda](/source/Priroda) docked with the *Mir Core Module*, and each utilised their Lyappa arm to move themselves to their respective docking ports. Kristall was originally positioned opposite of the Kvant-2 module (at the -Y node),[3]: 124 though re-positioned itself between the -X node and -Z node before finally remaining at the -Z node.[6]: 13, 17, 24

In 1989, the Kvant-2 module delivered a new on-board computer, being the Salyut 5B, which was an improvement over the Argon 16B computer which was already installed.[3]: 41

In January 1991, [Strela](/source/Strela_(crane)), a robotic crane, was installed onto the *Mir Core Module* by using supports that originally held the launch [fairing](/source/Payload_fairing), which was to assist moving one of Kristall's solar arrays onto Kvant-1.[3]: 128 In 1996, another Strela crane was installed opposite to the existing one.[6]: 38

During its lifetime, it was proposed at some point for the [Buran](/source/Buran_(spacecraft)) to replace the *Mir Core Module* with a new one, and then return the old one back to earth in its payload bay. However, due to complications such as the [dissolution of the Soviet Union](/source/Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union) and the subsequent funding issues that followed with the [Buran programme](/source/Buran_programme), this never occurred.[3]: 107

Main article: [Deorbit of Mir](/source/Deorbit_of_Mir)

The *Mir Core Module*, along with the rest of the station, re-entered and burned up over the [Pacific Ocean](/source/Pacific_Ocean) on March 23rd, 2001.

## Gallery

		- Interior of the *Mir Core Module*

		- Mealtime inside the *Mir Core Module*

## See also

- [Spaceflight portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Spaceflight)

- [Salyut programme](/source/Salyut_programme)

- [Shuttle–Mir programme](/source/Shuttle%E2%80%93Mir_program)

- [Zvezda (ISS module)](/source/Zvezda_(ISS_module))

- [Mir-2](/source/Mir-2)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["35 Years Ago: Launch of Mir Space Station's First Module - NASA"](https://www.nasa.gov/history/35-years-ago-launch-of-mir-space-stations-first-module/). 2021-02-22. Retrieved 2026-05-22.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) ["Mir FAQs - Facts and history"](https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Mir_FAQs_-_Facts_and_history). *www.esa.int*. Retrieved 2026-05-22.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-portree1_3-9) David Portree (1995). ["Mir Hardware Heritage"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090907191412/http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/RP1357.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](https://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/RP1357.pdf) (PDF) on 2009-09-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Soviet space programme: Philipp Meuser lifts the lid on the seminal cosmic design of Galina Balashova"](https://www.wallpaper.com/lifestyle/soviet-space-programme-philipp-meuser-lifts-the-lid-on-the-seminal-cosmic-design-of-galina-balashova). July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Spaceflight mission report: Soyuz T-15"](https://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/soyuz-t15.htm). *www.spacefacts.de*. Retrieved 2026-05-22.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_6-1) McDonald, Sue (1998). ["Mir Mission Chronicle"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090730205157/https://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/TP-1998-208920.pdf) (PDF). *ston.jsc.nasa.gov*. Archived from [the original](https://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/TP-1998-208920.pdf) (PDF) on 2009-07-30. Retrieved 2026-05-22.

## External links

- [Russian Space Web](http://www.russianspaceweb.com/mir_core.html)

- [Encyclopedia Astronautica](https://web.archive.org/web/20081223180808/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/mir.htm)

- Gunter's Space Page - information on [Mir](http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/mir.htm)

v t e Components of Mir Soviet modules Core module Kvant-1 Kvant-2 Kristall Russian/American modules Spektr Docking module Priroda Other subsystems Lyappa arm Strela crane APAS-89 Luch satellites Mir Environmental Effects Payload Visiting spacecraft Soyuz Progress (VBK-Raduga) Space Shuttle Other articles Shuttle-Mir programme Deorbit of Mir Related lists List of human spaceflights to Mir List of uncrewed spaceflights to Mir List of Mir expeditions List of Mir spacewalks List of Mir visitors

v t e Salyut programme Salyut stations (DOS) Salyut 1 (DOS-1) DOS-2 Kosmos 557 (DOS-3) Salyut 4 (DOS-4) Salyut 6 (DOS-5) Salyut 7 (DOS-6) Almaz stations (OPS) Salyut 2 (OPS-1) Salyut 3 (OPS-2) Salyut 5 (OPS-3) OPS-4 (not flown) Successors Mir (DOS-7) Zvezda (DOS-8) TKS spacecraft Kosmos 1267 (TKS-2) Kosmos 1443 (TKS-3) Kosmos 1686 (TKS-4) Support craft Soyuz Progress TKS VA FGB Lists Expeditions Spaceflights crewed uncrewed Visitors Spacewalks Related Return from Orbit (1984 film)

v t e ← 1985 Orbital launches in 1986 1987 → January Shiyong Tongbu Tongxin Weixing 1 Kosmos 1729 Kosmos 1730 Kosmos 1731 USA-15, USA-16, USA-17, USA-18 Kosmos 1732 Yuri 2b Mir / Core Kosmos 1733 SPOT-1, Viking Kosmos 1734 Kosmos 1735 STS-51-L (TDRS-B, SPARTAN-203) February Soyuz T-15 Progress 25 Kosmos 1736 Kosmos 1737 Unnamed GStar-2, Brasilsat A2 March Kosmos 1738 Kosmos 1739 Kosmos 1740 Kosmos 1741 KH-9 No.1220, Pearl Ruby Molniya-3 No.43 Progress 26 April GOES-G Kosmos 1742 Kosmos 1743 Soyuz TM-1 Kosmos 1744 Kosmos 1745 Ekran No.30L Meteor-2 No.18 Kosmos 1746 Kosmos 1747 Intelsat VA F-14 May Kosmos 1748, Kosmos 1749, Kosmos 1750, Kosmos 1751, Kosmos 1752, Kosmos 1753, Kosmos 1754, Kosmos 1755 Kosmos 1756 Gorizont No.24L Kosmos 1757 Kosmos 1758 Kosmos 1759 Kosmos 1760 Molniya-3 No.44 June Kosmos 1761 Kosmos 1762 Kosmos 1763 Kosmos 1764 Kosmos 1765 Kosmos 1766 Kosmos 1767 Molniya-1 No.59 July Kosmos 1768 Kosmos 1769 Kosmos 1770 Ajisai, Fuji 1a, Jindai Kosmos 1771 Kosmos 1772 Kosmos 1773 Kosmos 1774 August Kosmos 1775 Kosmos 1776 Molniya-1 No.57 USA-19 Kosmos 1777 Kosmos 1778, Kosmos 1779, Kosmos 1780 Kosmos 1781 NOAA-10 Kosmos 1782 September Kosmos 1783 Fanhui Shi Weixing 9 Kosmos 1784 Unnamed Kosmos 1785 Molniya-3 No.41 Kosmos 1786 Kosmos 1787 Gran' No.30L Kosmos 1788 Kosmos 1789 October Kosmos 1790 Kosmos 1791 Kosmos 1792 Polar Bear Molniya-1 No.60 Gorizont No.22L Kosmos 1793 Kosmos 1794, Kosmos 1795, Kosmos 1796, Kosmos 1797, Kosmos 1798, Kosmos 1799, Kosmos 1800, Kosmos 1801 Kosmos 1802 Mech-K No.303 November Kosmos 1715 Kosmos 1716, Kosmos 1717, Kosmos 1718, Kosmos 1719, Kosmos 1720, Kosmos 1721, Kosmos 1722, Kosmos 1723 STS-61-C (Satcom K1) Kosmos 1724 Kosmos 1725 Kosmos 1726 Gran' No.29L Kosmos 1727 Kosmos 1728 December Kosmos 1803 Kosmos 1804 USA-20 Kosmos 1805 Kosmos 1806 Kosmos 1807 Kosmos 1808 Kosmos 1809 Kosmos 1810 Molniya-1 No.62 Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mir Core Module](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir_Core_Module) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir_Core_Module?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.