Components of Mir Space Station: Priroda Module

Components of Mir Space Station
Priroda Module

Image of Priroda Module Diagram of Priroda Module

On April 23, 1996, Russia launched the Mir module Priroda (Nature) on a Proton launcher for rendezvous and docking with the space station on April 26. Weighing nearly 20 tons, the unit carries more than a ton of U.S. cargo for astronaut Shannon Lucid aboard the space station. Other Priroda equipment includes optical systems to survey Earth's resources. When docked, the new module completes the Mir construction complex started ten years earlier; four other modules -- Kristall, Kvant, Kvant-2, and Spektr -- have been launched and attached to the core unit before. Unlike them, Priroda has no solar power arrays but must rely on its on-board batteries as long as it is not docked to Mir.

Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner (MOMS-2P) experiment aboard Priroda

Module Mass
(Kg) Length
(m) Max. Diameter
(m) Pressurized Volume
(Cubic Meters) No. of Solar Arrays/Area
(Square Meters) Power Output
(KW) Function
Priroda 19,700 13 4.35 66 1 Remote sensing, earth sciences

Module	Mass (Kg)	Length (m)	Max. Diameter (m)	Pressurized Volume (Cubic Meters)	No. of Solar Arrays/Area (Square Meters)	Power Output (KW)	Function
Priroda	19,700	13	4.35	66	1		Remote sensing, earth sciences

Priroda was the last module to be added to the Mir. After its launch from Baikonur on April 23, 1996, it docked to the space station as scheduled on April 26. Its primary purpose is to add Earth remote sensing capability to Mir. It also contains the hardware and supplies for several joint U.S.-Russian science experiments.

Its Earth remote sensing capabilities include:

monitoring the ecological situation of large industrial areas, estimation of anthropogenous effects on ecological systems
measuring concentration and spacial distribution of small gaseous components in atmosphere of ozone and anthropogenous impurities
determining temperature fields on the ocean surface and researching the process of energy and mass exchange between ocean and atmosphere affecting the weather
receiving data on classification, structure, and moisture of clouds, including their optical characteristics
receiving data for plotting geological structure maps on refinement of minteral researves, water reserves, erosion of soil and conditions of forests and crops
acquiring emergency information from buoys in areas of nuclear power stations, seismically dangerous and other zones to create an integrated monitoring and warning system (Kentavr)
performing measurements in order to obtain data for working out ecological and economic theory of natural resources utilization

Sources:
ISS Phase I - Space Station Mir
Shuttle-Mir Web: Mir Components - NASA

Wednesday, 31-Dec-1969 18:00:00 CST
CSR/TSGC Team Web