By 
September 19th, 2025
Image credit: Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko
Russia’s Bion-M No. 2 descent module returned to Earth September 19, touching down in the Orenburg steppes. The spacecraft was launched from Baikonur on August 20 and after 30 days in space, the cargo of living organisms on board have been recovered.
Images taken of the recovered craft suggest the landing sparked a small fire that was quickly extinguished so recovery crews could approach the descent module.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The biosatellite’s payload included 75 mice, 1,000 fruit flies, cell cultures, microorganisms, plant seeds, and other items.
This “Noah’s Ark” of specimens will be transported to Moscow for intensive study.
Cosmic radiation
Bion-M No. 2 was sent into a nearly circular orbit at an inclination of roughly 97 degrees, a pole-to-pole orbit.
Image credit: Roscosmos/Ivan Timoshenko
Bion-M No. 2’s menagerie of specimens were exposed to a level of cosmic radiation by at least an order of magnitude compared to that on the Bion-M No. 1 spacecraft launched back in April 2013, placed in a different orbit and also flying for 30 days.
Image credit: Roscosmos
Microgravity and cosmic radiation
The mission was a joint effort of Roscosmos, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The scientific program of experiments and research consists of 10 sections.
According to the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the first and second sections are devoted to experimental studies of gravitational physiology on animals, to help create new technologies for ensuring human life support during flights under the combined effects of weightlessness and cosmic radiation.
Pre-liftoff image shows technician with biosatellite experiments.
Image credit: Roscosmos
Patterns of life
The third, fourth and fifth sections are devoted to studies of the influence of space flight and outer space factors on the biology of plants and microorganisms, as well as their communities, i.e. understanding the general patterns of life in the Universe.
The sixth, eighth and ninth sections include biotechnological, technological, physical and technical experiments.
The seventh section is a complex of radiobiological and dosimetric experiments necessary to solve the problems of ensuring radiation safety of new crewed spacecraft.
The tenth section includes experiments prepared by students from various schools of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.
Posted in Space News
