Mir EO-8

Mir EO-8 refers to the eighth long-duration expedition to the Russian (formerly Soviet) Mir space station. As part of the Russian Mir program, the EO expeditions denoted long-duration stays aboard the orbital complex, differentiating them from short-duration visiting missions.

EO-8 launched in December 1990 and hosted cosmonauts Gennadiy Manakov and Gennadiy Strekalov. Their primary mission objectives included conducting scientific research in fields such as astrophysics, biotechnology, materials science, and Earth observation. These experiments were crucial for understanding the effects of long-duration spaceflight on various processes and materials, as well as for gathering data about Earth's atmosphere and surface.

Furthermore, the EO-8 crew performed maintenance and repair work on the Mir station's systems to ensure its continued operability. They also conducted spacewalks to install equipment and perform external maintenance tasks.

The mission concluded in May 1991 with the return of Manakov and Strekalov to Earth, after roughly 166 days in space. EO-8 contributed significantly to the overall understanding of long-duration spaceflight and provided valuable data for future space exploration endeavors. The data collected during this expedition, like other EO missions, was used to inform the design and operation of future space stations and long-duration missions.