Moth in Space and other NASA bloopers 😊

Disclaimer: I really do not want to question the existence of the Russian Space Station Mir-2 (World-2), which was in 1993 upgraded to International Space Station (ISS) as we know it today. I just want to point out a few really interesting things…

So, the history of building the Space Station is long and pretty well documented:

December 14, 1987: NPO Energia Mir-2
Designated as OSETS (Orbital Assembly and Operations Centre). The station would be built in a 65 degree orbit and consist of 90 ton modules.

1991: “Mir-1.5”
This would involve launch of the DOS-8, after which the Buran shuttle would grapple the module, rendezvous with Mir, and attach it to the old DOS-7 base block. This plan was later altered so that DOS-8 would maneuver and dock itself to Mir. It would remain attached for two years.

1992: “Mir-2”
The station would consist of the DOS-8 core module and a cross beam called the NEP (Science Power Platform). This was equipped with MSB retractable solar panels, Sfora thruster packages and small scientific packages.

November 1993: International Space Station built around Mir-2
Russian elements of the International Space Station include:
— Zarya FGB, the first element launched. This was a US-funded TKS-derived propulsion module built by KB Salyut.
— Zvezda Service Module — this is the DOS-8 station, which was launched as the third major ISS module in July 2000.
— SO-1 (Pirs) - one of the docking modules originally designed for Buran/Mir-2 was added to the station in September 2001.
— SO-2 Poisk - A module similar to Pirs. Poisk also provides extra space for scientific experiments, and power-supply outlets and data-transmission interfaces for external scientific payloads.
— Rassvet -the only module delivered by NASA shuttle, in a barter exchange for the launch 'owed' for Zarya. Rassvet is used for cargo storage, science, and as a docking port for visiting spacecraft.

Hell, even Chinese put up a prototype Space Station, Tiangong-1, which will come crashing back to Earth between March 30 and April 2 in an uncontrolled re-entry, give or take a few days, according to the latest forecast by the ESA (European Space Agency).

But still, there is an irresistible impression that NASA is doing a Hollywood style footage aside from the station, for some of their funding need purposes :)

Just look at these 12 minutes: