The Mir core module was launched in February 1986. Originally a self-contained space station in and of itself, it is now the core and nerve center of the much larger Mir complex. The module contains living quarters, a control center, and power and life support equipment. The living quartes includes a galley, small individual crew quarters, and bathroom and shower facilities.
The module has six docking ports. One port in the aft end of the module is used by the Kvant module. One on the opposite end is used by Soyuz-TM and Progress-M spacecraft. Four radial docking ports, located in the same docking node as the front docking port but perpendicular to the long axis of the core module, are used by the Kristall, Kvant-2, Priroda, and Spektr modules.
| Length: | 13.1 m (43.2 ft.) |
| Mass: | 20,900 kg (46,000 lbs.) |
| Max. Diameter | 4.1 m (13.5 ft.) |
| Volume: | 90 m^3 (3200 cu. ft.) |