Bion 11 was a Russian biological research satellite that was part of the Bion programme. Scientists from France, Russia and United States conducted the experiments. Bion 11 was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-U launch vehicle. It carried two monkeys named Lalik and Multik. The spacecraft type was based on the Zenit reconnaissance satellite and launches of Bion satellites began in 1973 with primary emphasis on the problems of radiation effects on human beings. Launches in the program included Kosmos 110, 605, 670, 782, plus Nauka modules flown on Zenit-2M reconnaissance satellites. 90 kg of equipment could be contained in the external Nauka module.[3]
Mission type | Bioscience |
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Operator | Institute of Biomedical Problems |
COSPAR ID | 1996-073A ![]() |
SATCAT no. | 24701 |
Mission duration | 14 days (achieved) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Bion 11 |
Spacecraft type | Bion |
Bus | Zenit |
Manufacturer | TsSKB Progress |
Launch mass | 5,400 kg (11,900 lb)[1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 24 December 1996, 13:50:00 UTC |
Rocket | Soyuz 11A511U (s/n V15000-050) |
Launch site | Plesetsk, Site 43/4 |
Contractor | TsSKB Progress |
End of mission | |
Recovered by | Russian Space Forces |
Landing date | 7 January 1997, 05:02 UTC |
Landing site | Kustani, Kazakhstan |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit[2] |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 225.4 km (140.1 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 401.1 km (249.2 mi) |
Inclination | 62.80° |
Period | 90.50 minutes |
Revolution no. | 214 |
Bion/Bion-M programme |
It carried newts, snails, Drosophila flies and other insects, bacteria, and two macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta), Lapik and Multik. Both monkeys were safe at landing but Multik died of a heart attack during medical tests under general anaesthetic on 8 January 1997.
The Magee-8 scientific equipment was designed to study the basic features of electrostatic modular protection system. Other equipment was used to maintain the temperature and humidity within the specified range, the atmospheric regeneration, physiological parameters of the monkeys were recorded and transferred them to the ground in TV picture.
A similar mission "Bion-12" was scheduled for December 1998 but did not take place due to cessation of participation of the United States.
Bion/Bion-M satellites | |
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Bion precursor flight |
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Bion-M |
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(Kosmos number in brackets) |
← 1995 · Orbital launches in 1996 · 1997 → | |
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Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Cubesats are smaller. Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses). |
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