FOTON Series

Spacecraft “Foton-M” №3 is meant for experiments in space technology, production of materials and biological preparations for various industrial and scientific applications.

S/C “Foton-M” is an improved version of S/C “Foton” which has been successfully launched since 1985 for 12 times. S/C “Foton-M” provides low microgravity level (10-5 – 10-6 g◦) which contributes to successful experiments in space. The first successful launch of S/C “Foton-M” was made 31, May, 2005 from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Scientific data are downlinked via telemetry cannels to Russian ground stations, and via research hardware TELESUPPORT to ground station ESRANGE (Kirun, Sweden). Research hardware with experimental samples returns to Earth for further operations in descent module. S/C “Foton-M” and LV “Soyuz” which places it into orbit are manufactured by Space Rocket Centre “TsSKB-Progress” (Samara).


Note:

S/C “Foton-M” will contain the further Russian and European research hardware:

Name

Description

Provider

BIOBOX

Programmed incubator for research in cell biology

ESA

SCCO

Experiments with multi-component mixtures i.e. crude oil

TELESUPPORT

Communication channel and scientific data transfer to ESA ground station

GRADFLEX

Research in physics of liquids

eRISTO/oSTEO

Biological incubators for bone tissue studies

DIMAC

Microaccelerometer for measurement of microgravity levels

AQUAHAB

Biological experiments in aquatic environment

GRANADA

Growing of protein crystals

FREQBONE

Studies of effects of low-frequency, low-peak stimulation on bone tissue depression

BIOPAN

Experiments with exposing biological samples to outer space

STONE

Studies of measurements of geological material while meteorite falling

Data registering unit

Measurement of humidity, temperature, impacts and vibrations in re-entry capsule during all operations

KBTS 14

Growing of semi-conductive material crystals

Russia

VIBROKON-M

Studies of effects of controllable vibrations for heat transfer in liquid medium

BIOKONT-М

Research of life activity and productivity of microorganisms

KONTUR-L

Research of mice life activity

TEPLO

Studies of heat transfer using heat tubes

SRC "TsSKB-Progress"-MRC/ULB

BIOKON

Biological experiments

SRC "TsSKB-Progress" – Kayser-Italia

 
 

FOTON Series

“Foton-M” №3 spacecraft specifications

Orbit parameters:

Maximal altitude

304 km

Minimal altitude

262 km

Inclination

63о

Spacecraft mass

6535 kg

Descent module mass

2550 kg

Payload mass

up to 650 kg

Life in orbit

12 days

Cosmodrome of launch

Baikonur

         

Video

         

Images