On Feb. 23, 1997, the six crew members on board Space Station Mir were enjoying a rare moment of relaxation when a fire suddenly erupted from the spacecraft’s supplemental oxygen generator. The fire cut off access to one of two Soyuz escape vehicles and filled the space station with thick black smoke. Swift action and teamwork saved the crew, but the incident brought to light several shortcomings in emergency preparation, communication and safety drills. This story provides a platform from which we can discuss the importance of the fundamental issues related to the Mir crisis, which also apply to NASA and other international or commercial aerospace organizations. While many differences separate these entities, all of them should rely on a common culture of safety that places its emphasis upon mission success.