Foton-M2
Encyclopedia
The Foton-M2 was a space mission aboard an unmanned Foton-M
spacecraft
carrying a mainly Europe
an payload by the European Space Agency
(ESA). It was placed into orbit by a Russian Soyuz-U
launcher on 20 June 2005 at 14:00 Central European Time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
in Kazakhstan
by the Russian Space Agency (RKA). The Foton-M2 mission is the second attempt of almost the entire Foton-M1
experiment program which was lost due to launcher failure on 15 October 2002.
The 385 kg of experiments payload (out of the overall payload of 600 kg), consists of 39 experiments in fluid physics
, biology
, material science, meteoritics
, radiation dosimetry
and exobiology. Some of the experiments were designed by the ESA’s student program.
One notable experiment tested the ability of lichen
to survive in the harsh conditions of space (albeit in low-Earth orbit). It was successful, as the lichen survived over 14 days of exposure to space.
Foton-M
Foton-M is series of robotic spacecraft used by Russia and the European Space Agency for research conducted in the microgravity environment of Earth orbit. The Foton-M design is based on the design of the Foton, with several improvements including a new telemetry and telecommand unit for increased...
spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
carrying a mainly Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an payload by the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
(ESA). It was placed into orbit by a Russian Soyuz-U
Soyuz-U
The Soyuz-U launch vehicle is an improved version of the original Soyuz LV. Soyuz-U is part of the R-7 family of rockets based on the R-7 Semyorka missile. Members of this rocket family were designed by the TsSKB design bureau and constructed at the Progress Factory in Samara, Russia....
launcher on 20 June 2005 at 14:00 Central European Time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
by the Russian Space Agency (RKA). The Foton-M2 mission is the second attempt of almost the entire Foton-M1
Foton-M1
Foton-M1 was an unmanned space mission by the European Space Agency aboard a Russian Soyuz-U rocket that failed to launch successfully. The rocket's payload consisted of 44 experiments prepared by the European Space Agency, Fluidpac, Biopan, Telescience Support Unit, and others...
experiment program which was lost due to launcher failure on 15 October 2002.
The 385 kg of experiments payload (out of the overall payload of 600 kg), consists of 39 experiments in fluid physics
Fluid mechanics
Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the effect of forces on fluid motion...
, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, material science, meteoritics
Meteoritics
Meteoritics is a science that deals with meteorites and other extraterrestrial materials that further our understanding of the origin and history of the solar system. A specialist who studies meteoritics is known as a meteoriticist....
, radiation dosimetry
Dosimetry
Radiation dosimetry is the measurement and calculation of the absorbed dose in matter and tissue resulting from the exposure to indirect and direct ionizing radiation...
and exobiology. Some of the experiments were designed by the ESA’s student program.
One notable experiment tested the ability of lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
to survive in the harsh conditions of space (albeit in low-Earth orbit). It was successful, as the lichen survived over 14 days of exposure to space.
External links
- ESA
- Russian Space Agency in RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
- ESA: Lichen survives in Space
- Soyuz space mission launched carrying 39 experiments