Bion-M No.1
Bion -M1 is a Russian space mission. It is the first launch of an improved model of Bion satellites. The satellite was launched on April 19, 2013 10:00 UTC from Baikonur, along with the six small satellites AIST 2, Beesat -2, Beesat -3, OSSI 1, SOMP and Dove -2 by a Soyuz - 2.1a rocket. On 19 May 2013, the landing capsule landed about 100 km north of Orenburg.
Scientific payload
The following self-running scientific experiments during the flight are on board:
- A closed ecosystem with Euglena gracilis, Hornwort, Ramshorn snails, amphipods and Mexican cichlids that were at the start of the larval stage. During flight, the fish larvae and algae are filmed to see any changes in behavior. Also, be taken and fixed to analyze after landing the expression of certain genes that could play a role in the severity of perception, regular samples of the algae.
- Fungi and bacteria in a container on the outside of the return capsule, in order to test if these micro-organisms can survive the vacuum and re-entry into the atmosphere
- Vertebrates to test the effects of weightlessness on skeleton, internal organs and immune system 45 laboratory mice (Mus musculus, C57black / 6)
- 8 Mongolian gerbils (Meriones ungviculatus )
- 15 geckos ( Chondrodactylus turneri )
- 20 snails (Helix pomatia)
Results
After landing, reported the Russian news agency Interfax that all gerbils and more than half of the mice had not survived on board the flight. The gerbils were killed in a module due to a malfunction. All other animals and biological experiments reached the ground unharmed and were taken to further investigations to Moscow.