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‘Noah’s Ark’ satellite containing hundreds of animals lands back on Earth

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In 1957, as part of the Soviet space program, the first artificial Earth satellite was launched. 68 years later, we have learnt so much more about space, finding 6,000 worlds beyond our Solar System and even putting man on the Moon. And now, a Russian satellite has sent a bunch of animals and organisms into space. So, what’s going on? (Picture: Roscosmos)
Russian 'Noah's Ark' satellite Bion-M No. 2 credit: Roscosmos
A Russian biological research satellite containing more than 30 experiments, including 5 mice, more than 1,500 flies, cell cultures, microorganisms and plant seeds came back to Earth on Friday, September 19, after spending more than 30 days in Earth’s orbit. The ‘Noah’s Ark’ module, known as the Bion-M No.2, went into space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome spaceport in Kazakhstan on August 20 (Picture: Roscosmos)
Russian 'Noah's Ark' satellite Bion-M No. 2 credit: Roscosmos
It was placed into orbit around 230 to 236 miles in altitude, at an inclination of roughly 97 degrees, which means that the specimens on board were thereafter exposed to a high level of cosmic radiation. Photos show that when Bion-M No.2 landed in the steppes of the Orenburg region in Russia it was on fire, which was extinguished quickly (Picture: Roscosmos)
Russian 'Noah's Ark' satellite Bion-M No. 2 credit: Roscosmos
When the module landed, search helicopters carrying technical specialists extracted the living specimens as rapidly as they could to start an initial examination, including studying the flies’ motor activity to detect any nervous system problems – and this was done in a deployed medical tent at the landing site (Picture: Roscosmos)
Russian 'Noah's Ark' satellite Bion-M No. 2 credit: Roscosmos
The mission was a joint effort between Roscosmos, The Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBMP). Bion-M No. 2’s scientific program of experiments and research consists of 10 ‘sections’, where according to the IBMP, the first and second sections are devoted to experimental studies of gravitational physiology on animals. This is to help create new technologies for humans under the combined effects of weightlessness and cosmic radiation (Picture: Roscosmos)
Russian 'Noah's Ark' satellite Bion-M No. 2 credit: Roscosmos
The third, fourth and fifth section will be devoted to the studies of the influence of space flight and outer space factors on the biology of plants and microorganisms, as well as their communities, which will be an insight into understanding the general patterns of life in the universe (Picture: Roscosmos)
Russian 'Noah's Ark' satellite Bion-M No. 2 credit: Roscosmos
The sixth, eighth and ninth sections include biotechnological, technological, physical and technical experiments, but the seventh is a complex of radiobiological and dosimetric experiments to make sure of the radiation safety of new crewed spacecraft. Then, the tenth section involves experiments prepared by students from various schools of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus (Picture: Roscosmos)



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