Russia To Begin Preparations For Launch Of Bion‑m No3 Satellite In 2026

MOSCOW, Dec 14 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- Russia will begin preparations for the launch of Bion-M No. 3 research satellite in 2026, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported, quoting Russian state space corporation Roscosmos on Sunday.

"Preparations for the launch of Bion‑M No. 3 will begin in 2026. The purpose of the launch is to study the factors of a spaceflight in conditions of more severe radiation exposure," Roscosmos said on Telegram.

Bion‑M No. 3 will be placed into a higher orbit than that of its predecessor, Bion-M No. 2, with an altitude of about 800 kilometres (497 miles) and with the same inclination of about 97 degrees, Roscosmos added.

Bion-M No. 2 carried 75 mice and 1,500 drosophila flies to the orbit in August to test the biological effects of space environment at a high-latitude orbit, as it has more cosmic radiation and other geomagnetic conditions than traditional orbits with an inclination of 50-60 degrees.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK