Final answer:
The Mir space station was designed for humans to live and work in space, primarily to conduct scientific experiments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mir space station was specifically designed so that humans could live and work in space. This space station served as a habitat and laboratory where astronauts could conduct various scientific experiments. The Mir station, although no longer in use, played a critical role in the development of long-duration human spaceflight capabilities. While it did host technology tests and allowed for observations of the cosmos, its primary purpose was to sustain human life in space and to facilitate scientific research in a microgravity environment. Much like its successor, the International Space Station, which orbits Earth once every 90 minutes and has been continuously habituated by scientists, the Mir was an important step in advancing human space exploration.