Mir thrown eleventh hour internet lifeline

US satellite company InfoTelesys is attempting to secure $100m in funding to keep Russian satellite station Mir up in orbit.

The company wants to use the dilapidated space station to run satellite-based high-speed internet access. However, Russia has today confirmed the date of Mir's splash down as 23 March. Mir will ditch into the Pacific Ocean at 06:30(GMT) in a one million square km area to the east of New Zealand. InfoTelesys claims to have the support of the Russian government in its plan to keep Mir going, but just needs to raise the money.