Forty-five mice, eight gerbils, fifteen newts, twenty snails, fifteen lizards, and some microorganismshave just been put into orbit aboard theRussian space capsule Bion-M, launched by a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur base (Kazakhstan). During the mission, which will last 30 days and in which NASA and the Russian Institute for Myomedical Problems in Moscow collaborate, the animals will be subjected to variousspatial biomedical studies. Experts have indicated that all the chosen species bear immunological, biological or structural similarities to humans.
Bion-M is equipped with dozens of video cameras to monitor the state of the animals and their adaptation to the environment. Passengers on the satellite will remain in an initial circular orbit of 575 kilometers at 64.9 degrees of inclination.
The main objective of the mission isinvestigate animal physiology in a microgravity situation, as well as analyzing the radiobiological effects and identifying biologically significant parameters of cosmic ionizing radiation. Specifically, NASA scientists will focus on theresponse of blood vessels, knee and elbow joints, spine, and inner ear, in charge of maintaining balance. The data collected will be useful, among other things, to prepare a future manned trip to Mars.
In addition, the researchers intend to analyze how cells and tissues readapt to Earth’s gravity after spending a month in space. Until now, studies in space had been carried out in periods of no more than two weeks and with more rudimentary technology.
The research module is scheduled to return to Earth on May 18 and land near the city of Orenburg, Russia. It will be then when the second part of this work begins.
