25th anniversary of the deep manned submersibles Mir-1 and Mir-2

Abstract

In 1987, the deep manned submersibles Mir-1 and Mir-2 were introduced into the practice of scientific research of the ocean. For 25 years, with their help, a wide range of deepwater operations have been carried out: oceanic scientific research (including the most active areas on the seabed—hydrothermal fields), shooting films and documentaries, which have brought international fame to the vehicles; special operations concerning solving problems of national importance concerning the sunken nuclear submarines Komsomolets and Kursk; live television broadcast from great depths of the ocean via satellite to the earth; diving under the ice at the geographic North Pole; a three-year cycle of scientific research on lake Baikal; etc. During the 25 years of their operation, there have been no unsolvable problems in the deep ocean for the Mir vehicles. They have rightfully taken a leading position in the field of deep-sea research in the world and were named the best vehicles in technical terms in the history of the creation of such technical facilities. Some of the results and details of the above-mentioned deep-sea operations, as well as the technical innovations developed and implemented during the service of the Mir vehicles, are considered in this article.