MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian mission control said on Saturday that preparations for the aged Mir space station's return to Earth were proceeding according to schedule and all systems were in order.
The 15-year-old orbiter, the largest man-made object to plummet from orbit, will fall around March 21-22 and fragments that do not burn up as it goes through the Earth's atmosphere will plunge into the Pacific Ocean around March 22.
"The programme of work planned for March 16 has been completed," a spokesman said on a recorded message at mission control in Korolyov, just outside Moscow. "On the basis of the results of telemetric data the complex is hermetically sealed...there is enough energy on board to ensure the computers are working, as well as the radio control of its orbit," the spokesman said.
On Friday, specialists gave the all-clear to steering systems on the Progress cargo ship, which docked with Mir in January to start its countdown to destruction and will help guide the station down if other controls fail. Mission control said that Mir, once the pride of the Soviet space programme, was orbiting at an average altitude of 233.5 km (145 miles) on Saturday, down 2.5 km
(1.6 miles) in 24 hours.
The plunge toward Earth is due to begin when the craft falls to 220 km (137 miles), which is expected around March 21-22.
Engineers will initiate the process by firing jets to brake the craft in three bursts over 24 hours and steer it towards its landing zone in an elliptical orbit 160-220 km (99-137 miles) above Earth.
Mission control has said experts also tested the central onboard computer on Mir and all of its steering systems.
About 1,500 fragments - up to 40 tonnes of debris - may reach Earth, some at speeds high enough to smash through two metres (six feet) of concrete. Mir is expected to fly over Japan and Australia on its final orbit before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Chile, away from major air and sea routes.
Designed to operate for just three years, Mir has survived for 15, despite mishaps including a collision and a fire.
Engineers also briefly lost control of the station in December when its batteries went dead.