Perfect Splashdown For Mir

Everyone from the Russian space team, residents of Japan, Australia and the South Pacific, and certainly the brokers and underwriters at Lloyd’s who insured its safe landing for $200 million, can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Mir de-orbited and self-destructed over a barren stretch of the Pacific Ocean between Australia and Chile around 12:00 a.m. EST without a hitch.

As reported by Reuters News Agency, Mission control chief engineer, Mikhail Pronin, told reporters at the control center outside Moscow “There’s a feeling of relief. The job has been done well, with no problems, now it’s time for a drink.” The people at Lloyd’s undoubtedly share his sentiments.