Mir Space Station Launched
On February 19, 1986, the Soviet Union launched the core module of the Mir space station. It was the first modular space station and held the record for the longest continuous human presence in space (except for the ISS). Mir orbited Earth for 15 years, hosting numerous international crews and scientific experiments. It was a crucial step in permanent human presence beyond Earth, paving the way for future projects like the International Space Station.
Source: gemini