Bion-M No.1
| Mission type | Research |
|---|---|
| Operator |
Institute of Biomedical Problems Russian Academy of Sciences |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-015A[1] |
| SATCAT № | 39130[1] |
| Website | biosputnik.imbp.ru/eng/bion.html |
| Mission duration | 30 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Bion-M |
| Bus | Hybrid Yantar/Zenit[1] |
| Manufacturer | TsSKB Progress[2] |
| Launch mass | 6,266 kilograms (13,814 lb)[3] |
| Landing mass | 2,415 kilograms (5,324 lb)[3] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 19 April 2013, 10:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Soyuz 2-1a |
| Launch site | Baikonur 31/6[4] |
| Contractor | Roskosmos |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 19 May 2013, 03:12 UTC |
| Landing site | Orenberg, Russia |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | geocentric |
| Regime | low |
| Semi-major axis | 6,948 kilometres (4,317 mi)[1] |
| Eccentricity | 0.0015[1] |
| Perigee | 559 kilometres (347 mi)[1] |
| Apogee | 580 kilometres (360 mi)[1] |
| Inclination | 64.89 degrees[1] |
| Period | 96.05 minutes[1] |
| Epoch | 21 April 2013[1] |
Bion-M No.1 (Бион-М) is a Russian space mission, the part of the Bion series of space missions. The animal-carrying space capsule was launched into orbit on April 19, 2013, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The Bion-M flew a 30 day mission.[2][3][5][6][7][8][9]
Return to Earth was on May 19 with a landing near Orenburg in Russia at 03:12 GMT.[10]
Satellite
The satellite contains parts from two long standing Soviet spy satellite families. Bion's landing unit is from the Zenit 2M satellite and the satellite also contains the instrument section of a Yantar. It was made by TsSKB Progress of Samara.[1][2][11]
The cargo consisted of 45 mice (three per cage), 15 geckos, eight gerbils, snails and fish.[7][8] The animals were intended to survive the entire mission, but upon landing it was found that 8 Mongolian gerbils, most of the 45 mice, and all of the fish were dead due to equipment failure. 15 of the mice died when the food dispenser in their experimental compartment stopped working. The gerbil compartment suffered a temporary loss of power, ventilation, lighting, and food supply that likely accounts for their demise. Ultimately, all of the remaining animals will be euthanized for study.[12]
It launched with 6 small satellites - OSSI-1, Dove 2, AIST 2, BEESat 3, SOMP and BEESat 2.[1]
| Organism | Number sent | Number survived | Cause of death[13] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mongolian gerbils (Meriones ungviculatus) | 8 | all died | Equipment failure[13] |
| mice (Mus musculus) (C57black/6) | 45 | 16 | food supply failure (15), stress[13] |
| geckos (Chondrodactylus turneri Gray) | 15 | survived | [13] |
| fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) | all died | Equipment failure[13] | |
| snails (Helix pomatia Linnaeus) | 20[14] | survived | |
| other, including microorganisms | survived |
Research
Research based on the recovered animals has revealed insights into the impact of spaceflight on cerebral arteries, the spinal cord, inner ear, and genetic processes. Deputy Director of Russia's Institute of Medical and Biological Studies Vladimir Sychev indicated that some of the results may help explain why some astronauts suffer impaired vision during spaceflight: "We used to think that in zero-gravity, fluid travelled upward and that the quality of blood improved, but it turns out that it is the other way around. The arteries of the brain come under duress and their capacity is reduced by 40 percent." The reduced bloodflow may be key to triggering orthostatic intolerance.[15]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 Christy, Robert. "2013 - Launches to Orbit and Beyond". Zarya - Soviet, Russian and International Spaceflight. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Biological space vehicle "Bion-M"". Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Biomedical Problems. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Zak, Anatoly. "Bion (12KSM) satellite". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ↑ Zak, Anatoly. "Bion (12KSM) satellite". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
- ↑ "Космический аппарат "Бион-М" № 1 успешно выведен на орбиту" (in Russian). Roskosmos. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ↑ NASA: Space Biosciences Division: Bion-M1
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Space.com: Russia Launches Animals Into Space on One-Month Journey
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Clark, Stephen. "Russian spacecraft launched with cosmic cache of critters". Spaceflightnow. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ↑ Bergin, Chris. "Soyuz 2-1A launches numerous passengers on BION-M spacecraft". nasaspaceflight. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
- ↑ Christy, Robert. "Bion M1 - Return to Earth". Zarya - Soviet, Russian and International Spaceflight. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ↑ "Space vehicle". Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of Biomedical Problems. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
- ↑ Pultarova, Tereza (2013). "Crew of Bion M1 Found Dead upon Landing". Space Safety Magazine. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Zak, Anatoly. "Bion (12KSM) satellite". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ↑ Zak, Anatoly. "Bion (12KSM) satellite". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ↑ Marwaha, Nikita (2013). "In Focus: Why Spaceflight is Becoming Blurrier over Time". Space Safety Magazine. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
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