August 20, 2025, 1:13 p.m. EDT (1713 GMT)
Russia successfully launched the Bion-M No. 2 biosatellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The uncrewed mission is set to last 30 days and carries a diverse payload of living organisms, often referred to as a “miniature Noah’s Ark.” This marks a significant step in Russia’s resumed Bion program, which focuses on space medicine and the biological effects of spaceflight. The mission’s primary objective is to study how prolonged exposure to microgravity and cosmic radiation impacts living beings, with a focus on gathering data for future long-duration human missions to the Moon and Mars.
The Bion-M No. 2 Payload
The biosatellite’s main passengers are 75 mice, which are central to the research due to their genetic similarity to humans and their heightened sensitivity to radiation. The mice are housed in specialized “miniature hotels” equipped with advanced systems for lighting, ventilation, feeding, and waste disposal. Researchers will monitor the mice in real time using cameras and sensors, and some will have implanted chips to track physiological changes. To ensure the findings are robust, the mission includes three groups of mice for comparison: one in space, a second on Earth in a ground-based simulator replicating the spacecraft’s environment, and a third in normal Earth conditions.
In addition to the mice, the spacecraft is carrying over 1,000 fruit flies, which will provide valuable insights into genetic and cellular responses to radiation due to their rapid life cycles. The payload also includes various microbes, cell cultures, and plant seeds. A unique aspect of this mission is the inclusion of lunar simulants—materials designed to mimic Moon dust and rocks—in 16 test tubes. Scientists will observe how these materials interact with the space environment, which could inform future lunar construction and habitat design. The Bion-M No. 2 is flying in a polar orbit, which will expose the payload to significantly higher levels of cosmic radiation compared to its predecessor, Bion-M No. 1, launched in 2013. This orbit is designed to better simulate the conditions of deep-space travel.
Historical Context and Research Goals
The Bion-M No. 2 mission builds on the legacy of the Soviet and Russian Bion satellite program, which has been conducting biological research in space since the 1970s. The program previously launched animals like dogs, monkeys, rats, and insects. The Bion-M No. 1 mission in 2013 was a restart of this program after a long hiatus. While that mission also carried a variety of animals, including mice, gerbils, and geckos, it faced some challenges with the survival of the animals. This new mission, with its enhanced technology and specific focus on radiation exposure, aims to provide crucial data on the effects of space on various biological systems, including the cardiovascular, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems.
The data collected from the mission will be used to understand how organisms adapt to microgravity and how they readapt to Earth’s gravity upon return. By studying these biological processes, scientists hope to develop better medical support requirements and countermeasures for astronauts, ultimately mitigating the health risks associated with long-duration spaceflights. The findings could also have applications for medicine on Earth.
