File:Mir reentry photo.jpg

Fair Use Rationale
In accordance with the non-free content criteria, the fair use rationale for this image is as follows:
 * 1) No free equivalent. Due to the fact that the image shows the destruction of the station, a non-reproducible event which at the time marked the largest object ever to be intentionally deorbited, and all images taken of the reentry are copyrighted, there is no equivalent free image of this event.
 * 2) Respect for commercial opportunities. As the station was operated by the Russian space programme, and images such as this can be found in many locations on the internet, there are no likely opportunities for commercial gain by use of this image.
 * 3) Minimal use. Image is medium-resolution and relatively low-quality, and as such is unlikely to be of any use for piracy or other purposes.
 * 4) Previous publication. Image was used extensively in the media at the time and has been used in several books concerning the station..
 * 5) Content. Image is encyclopaedic, showing an excellent view of the space station's destruction, and as such meets Wikipedia's content requirements for non-free images.
 * 6) Media-specific policy. The image meets Wikipedia's media-specific policy.
 * 7) One-article minimum. The image is used in at least one article, Mir, and may well be used in further articles such as space station, among others.
 * 8) Significance. The image contributes significantly to the article, showing the destruction of the station.
 * 9) Restrictions on location. Image is only used in main article namespace.
 * 10) Image description page. The image description page contains the following.
 * 11) * (a) Proper attribution of the source of the material, and attribution of the copyright holder if different from the source.
 * 12) *(b) An appropriate fair-use tag indicating which Wikipedia policy provision permitting the use is claimed. A list of image tags is at Image copyright tags/Non-free content.
 * 13) * (c) The name of each article in which fair use is claimed for the item, and a separate fair use rationale for each use of the item, as explained at Fair use rationale guideline. The rationale is presented in clear, plain language, and is relevant to each use.


 * In conclusion, the image is of unique historical value to articles relating to Mir and as such may be classified as fair use under United States copyright law.