On February 19, 1986, the base block of the Mir space station was launched. The base block is designed to provide working and rest conditions for the crew (up to six people), to control of the on-board systems, electricity supply and radio communications, as well as to transmit telemetry information, to receive command information, to control orientation, to correct orbit, to ensure the approach and docking of target modules and transport ships.

Columbia was the first reusable spacecraft created by NASA. A test flight on it took place on April 12, 1981, which was (and remains) unique: it was a test launch of a spacecraft, but it was with the crew on board. The reason is that the shuttle can not land without pilots due to insufficiently developed automation.