Stock photography, photos: Russian MIR Space Station Stock photos of The Russian (Soviet) MIR Space Station and the Buran Shuttle. The Russian Shuttle Buran (Snowstorm in Russian) was authorized in 1976 in response to the United States Space Shuttle program. Building of the shuttles began in 1980, with the first full-scale Aero-Buran rolling out in 1984. Paris Air Show ˆ France. Photograph: © Robert Burch Click for a larger image and more information Keywords associated with this stock photo: Russia, mir, space station, cosmonaut, buran, paris air show, aviation, aerospace, aero, space, space program, rocket, shuttle, soviet, soviet union, ussr