Living organisms successfully reach orbit in Bion-M satellite capsule - Roscosmos

MOSCOW. Aug 21 (Interfax) - The flight of the Bion-M 2 satellite has been smooth, and all living organisms have successfully reached the orbit, Roscosmos said on Thursday.

"According to telemetric data received today, the satellite is operating normally and all of the living organisms have successfully started their space mission," Roscosmos said in a statement.

The Bion-M 2 research satellite was put into orbit on August 20, following its launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The month-long orbital mission involves 75 mice, fruit flies, cell cultures, plants, samples of grain, legumes and industrial crops, as well as plant seeds grown from seeds that had previously been in space. In addition, fungi, lichens, microorganisms, bacteria and other materials were sent into space.

The satellite will be parked in a polar orbit with space radiation levels roughly 30% higher than they are in the International Space Station orbit. The satellite's orbit will be 370-380 kilometers high and will have an inclination of 96.62 degrees.

The project aims to study the impact of radiation and zero gravity on living organisms in the polar orbit.