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On August 28, 1999, two cosmonauts and a French astronaut left the Mir station for the last time. Mir would be put into "free drift" after the Cosmonauts had left the station. This means that the gyrodynes are powered down. The gyrodynes are used to point the solar panels towards the sun. Without them the power output decreases significantly, so before the crew abandoned the station they powered down all unnecessary systems. A computer was also installed before they left the station. The old computer system on Mir has been known for frequent crashes before and with no crew to power it up again a new separate system had to be installed in case of a crash. The new computer is called BUPO. It is actually an old system much less complex then the computer Mir has been using. The BUPO has been used on the Progress since it's birth. It's job on Mir is to maintain Mir's orientation if the main computer, TsVM-1 fails.

After the crew had left the station we were all sure that the end of Mir was close. It was to be discarded sometime before summer 2000. Any missions to the station would be to prepare it for the end. But in January 2000 Walt Anderson, a Washington based capitalist said he could raise 20 million to keep Mir aloft. The Russian government ruled late January that two Progress cargo ships and a Soyuz intended for the ISS would be used for Mir instead, the cost is estimated to $19 million.

The first of the Progress ships docked with Mir on February 3. It was carrying fuel and water and equipment to seal the leak in Mir. The Soyuz carrying 2 cosmonauts are expected to arrive at Mir early April. If all goes well the crew will stay for a period of at least 45 days. They will be restoring systems and do repair work on the old station that is in remarkable good health considering it's age. The 20 million raised will keep the station in orbit until August when a decision on it's fate will be made.