Created: 2020-05-30
Updated: 2023-03-04
Product/Service - Mini Station 1
- Classification
- Space Stations & Habitats
- Category
- Commercial Space Station
Space Entertainment
Commercial Astronaut Services
- Fields
- Space Tourism
- Status
- Dormant
- First launch
- 2001
Mission accomplishments include:
- first commercial lease agreement for orbiting manned space station (December, 1999, signed officially in February of 2000)
- first privately funded manned expedition to a space station (launch April 4, 2000, return 16 June, 2000)
- first privately funded cargo resupply mission in space (April 27, 2000)
- first privately funded spacewalk (May 12, 2000)
- first contract for space tourist (Dennis Tito, June 19, 2000)
Subsequently, additional financing was not forthcoming from the original investors. The political pressure against the project from NASA was both private and public, and the decision was made to end the project, and bring down the space station.
On the 23rd of March, 2001, the Mir was de-orbited.
MirCorp eventually was selected to work with *NSync pop star Lance Bass in his unsuccessful effort to fly into space, as well as former NASA Associate Administrator Laura Garver’s efforts.
MirCorp was closed in 2003.
In 2000, MirCorp plans an historic Initial Public Offering (IPO) on leading exchanges worldwide to raise $117 million in financing for long-term commercial operations with Russia's Mir space station.
Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, a director and major investor in MirCorp, said the company has significant asset value, and is unique in offering true commercial access to space.
"MirCorp has been valued at between $1.3 and $1.5 billion by KPMG, which recognized the worth of Mir as the only orbital platform of its kind in service today," Dr. Kathuria said.
MirCorp is developing its manned flight schedule for 2001 and beyond, with several missions now being organized. They include the launch of Dennis Tito, MirCorp's first Citizen Explorer, as well as the flight of a winner from the "Destination Mir" reality series from NBC and "Survivor" producer Mark Burnett.
Dennis Tito has completed the second two-week training cycle at Russia's Star City cosmonaut base near Moscow, and his historic Citizen Explorer mission is scheduled for 2001.
The NBC "Destination Mir" series in which a diverse cast of at least a dozen American civilians will train for the mission at Star City will end with one person selected for the flight to Mir. "Destination Mir" will run during the 2001-02 season.
In 2001, MirCorp was also planning a new, private commercial on the orbital facility – the Mini Station 1. Built on Russian Space Station technology, the Mini Station will serve as a core module for a new platform in Space. In its initial configuration, it will be able to accommodate visitors for stays of up to 20 days and will tout an operational lifetime of 15 years.
Sources
Most sources should be linked in the texts and headings as revealed by mouse-over, but here are they listed for visibility.
Similar Organizations
Orbital Segment, Segment, Axiom Station, AxStation
Commercial Space Station, Commercial ISS Module, Space Suits & Garments
Development
B330, First Base
Commercial Space Station, Surface Habitats
Dormant
Orbital Reef
Commercial Space Station
Development
Commercial Space Station, Commercial ISS Module
Concept
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Commercial Space Station, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Concept
Galactic Suite Space Resort
Commercial Space Station, Commercial Lunar Lander
Dormant
VERA Station
Commercial Space Station
Concept
StarMax
Commercial Space Station, Commercial ISS Module
Development
Commercial Space Station
Dormant, Concept
Commercial Space Station
Dormant, Concept
Lunar Communications Platform (Oreades), PicoGravity Lab, Lunar Space Elevator
In-Space Communications Relay, Commercial Space Station, Space Elevator
Early stage
Arachne Station
In-Space Manufacturing, Commercial Space Station
Early stage
Commercial Space Station
Concept
Starlab, Outpost
Commercial Space Station
Development
Orbital Can Station, MDRS FARMM
Commercial Space Station, Surface Habitats, In-Space Manufacturing, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Concept
Commercial Space Station
Commercial Space Station
Development
Pioneer-class Space Station, Voyager-class Space Station
In-Space Manufacturing, Commercial Space Station
Early stage
Commercial Space Station, In-Space Assembly
Early stage
Aurora Station
Commercial Space Station
Dormant, Development
Olympus, Pythom Spaceship
Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Commercial Space Station
Early stage
Stargate, Terran-R, Terran-1
Surface Habitats, Space Construction Company, Commercial Space Station, In-Space Manufacturing
Development, Concept
Orbital Reef, LIFE Habitat
Commercial Space Station
Development
Commercial Space Station, Space Tug, Space Tourism Activities
Dormant
O-HAB
Commercial Space Station
Concept
Commercial Space Station
Concept
POP3D
In-Space Manufacturing, Hardware, Commercial Space Station
Demonstrated
ThinkPlatform-1
Commercial Space Station, Space Construction Company, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), On-Orbit Servicing, Space Tug
Development
Commercial Space Station
Development
Space-Lab
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Research Payloads, Commercial Space Station
Early stage
Starlab
Commercial Space Station
Development
Sky Canvas
Space Entertainment
Active
Space Entertainment, Space Tourism Support, Space Tourism Activities
Early stage
Space Entertainment, Miscellaneous
Demonstrated
Space Entertainment, Commercial Mars Base, Human Landing System, Human Spaceflight
Dormant
Space Entertainment, Commercial Rover
Development
Space Entertainment
Demonstrated
Space Entertainment
Development
Galactic Combat
Space Entertainment
Early stage
SEE-1
Commercial ISS Module, Space Entertainment
Development
Space Entertainment
Early stage
Space Entertainment
Active
Space Entertainment
Early stage
Commercial Astronaut Services
Dormant, Early stage
Commercial Astronaut Services, Space Tourism Support, Space Tourism Activities
Development