The company hopes biotech and pharmaceutical industries will lease lab space to take advantage of Mir's near-zero gravity. On April 4, MirCorp sent a two-man repair crew to Mir. Goldlin did, however, point out that delays in ISS construction were not due to Russia alone, for NASA was also behind schedule in building components. On April 12, Russia's then President-elect Putin said that Russia would not abandon Mir. But one must not forget national industry.
National industry has to be the priority.
Since Mir is already nine years over its projected life span, they do not expect it to be in orbit for more than another year. However Chief Designer and President of RSC Energia, Semenov, insists the facility can be used by commercial investors for two to five more years. NASA says it is having trouble estimating costs because of delays and uncertainties about pieces that will be needed. It also criticized NASA for not shielding the space station from collisions with space debris. NASA estimates it will take three and a half years to add the shielding to the orbiting space station.