In a spectacular show of light and sound, the Mir space station finally
plunged into the Pacific Ocean at 0558 GMT on 23 March. The final command to the
station at 0507 GMT sent Mir fragments blazing towards the target area. 鈥淚t may
have been some seconds early, but it was within the safety zone,鈥 said physicist
Pat Helm, an adviser to New Zealand鈥檚 Prime Minister Helen Clark. Many were sad
to see the end of Mir鈥檚 15-year career
(New Scientist, 10 March, p 5).
鈥淧eople talked about the troubled Mir, but it was nevertheless a useable
workhorse,鈥 says Tim Stevenson of the University of Leicester鈥檚 Space Research
Centre.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles