Posted: Tue, Sep 4, 2001, 10:04 AM ET (1404 GMT)
MirCorp announced Tuesday that it plans to launch its own small private space station in three years for commercial use. The company said that it has signed an agreement with the Russian space agency Rosaviakosmos and RSC Energia to construct and operate Mini Station 1. The facility will accommodate three people for up to 20 days at a time and will be ready for commercial operations in 2004. The station will be serviced by the same Soyuz spacecraft that will visit the International Space Station: the Soyuz will first dock with Mini Station 1 on its regular taxi flights to swap Soyuz spacecraft attached to ISS. The cost of the station was not released, and MirCorp officials said in a press release that the "detailed definition" of the station would be completed next month. Company officials said they believe there is a market for commercial customers, such as tourists and filmmakers, that will make the station profitable. MirCorp also said it plans to work with NASA and other ISS partners to accommodate commercial station users until Mini Station 1 is operational.

Related Links:

•  MirCorp press release