Technicians successfully prepared Russia's Mirspace station for its plunge to fiery oblivion tomorrow by switching back on its guidance systems to help bring the 136-tonne craft back to earth.
The operation will allow them to manoeuvre the craft into its final position from which it should crash into the Pacific Ocean.
It was a symbol of Soviet space prowess when launched in 1986 and set a raft of endurance records envied the better-funded US space programme. But Russia decided last year to dump the increasingly accident-prone station due to safety fears.
Most of the station will burn up as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere, leaving about 20-40 tonnes to splash down in the south Pacific Ocean early tomorrow - in theory away from main shipping lanes and inhabited areas.
Flight engineers will fire a first engine burst at 00.33 GMT followed by two others. These will slow down the craft and allow it to be drawn back toward Earth.
If all goes to plan Mirwill come down in an area of sea about 200 km wide from north to south but stretching through 6,000 km from east to west.
Super-heated chunks of the space craft that survive re-entry temperatures should crash harmlessly into the ocean between 06.20 and 06.30 GMT, say officials.
The 15-year-old station flirted with disaster several times in its final years. It had an on-board fire, a collision with a cargo vessel and repeated failures of its main computer - which plunged it into darkness - spinning on its axis around earth.
But Mirhome to 106 cosmonauts and astronauts during its eventful career, will also leave a legacy of unrivalled experience in long-term manned space flight which could help future generations visit Mars.