Officials set date for Mir's plunge to Earth

Russian space officials have set March 20 as the date for dumping the Mir space station.

They say they want to wait until the craft drifts closer to Earth before giving it the final shove toward a fiery plunge into the Pacific Ocean.

However, they warn the latest date for Mir's long-delayed demise may still vary depending on solar activity, which expands the atmosphere and creates friction with the 15-year-old station.

Space officials had previously said they would start a series of steps to prepare for Mir's controlled descent after its orbit drops to 155 miles by the end of this week.

But Deputy Mission Control chief Viktor Blagov now says space engineers have decided to let the orbiter descend to 132 miles before discarding it.

"Mir's de-orbit is tentatively set for March 20," Mr Blagov said in Moscow.

Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin said controllers want Mir to move closer to ensure they have as much fuel as possible for the final push.

"The closer to Earth the station comes, the less fuel is needed," he said.

Mr Blagov said Mission Control would stabilise Mir just one day before the dumping, and downplayed fears of a power outage or a computer glitch resulting in a chaotic plunge.

"We have seen numerous voltage and communications problems, but they posed no danger to the station because we were always able to recharge the batteries," Mr Blagov said.

In case Mir's skittish central computer fails, Mission Control can direct the descent using the computer on the Progress cargo ship docked with the Mir, Blagov said.