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| Bion Missions
The Bion satellite, for biological research, is most probably based on the Zenit-2M film imaging satellite but supporting an experiments payload rather than the usual optics.
Cosmos 368 was the first Zenit satellite to be linked to biological research as it carried developmental versions of later Bion hardware as well as some biological experiments at the cellular level. It did not carry living creatures. In effect, it was a prototype Bion. It is listed among the Zenit-2M satellites.
The Bion M-1 mission of 2013 was the first of a hybrid design that used a Zenit-type recoverable cabin attached to a Yantar instrument unit. Although it contained elements of Zenit, it is not included here because it is a radical design change rather than an evolution of earlier models.
Cosmos 605(Bion № 1) 1973-083A 6913 |
1973 Oct 31, 18:24 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1973 Nov 01, 00:10: 214 x 400 km, 62.80 deg, 90.7 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. Carried Nauka autonomous module The re-entry cabin was recovered. |
Landed: 1973 Nov 22, 06:49 |
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Cosmos 690(Bion № 2) 1974-080A 7478 |
1974 Oct 22, 18:00 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1974 Oct 23, 07:15: 216 x 367 km, 62.81 deg, 90.3 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. The re-entry cabin was recovered. |
Landed: 1974 Nov 12, 05:50 |
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Cosmos 782(Bion № 3) 1975-110A 8450 |
1975 Nov 25, 17:00 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1975 Nov 25, 22:44: 218 x 383 km, 62.82 deg, 90.5 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. The re-entry cabin was recovered. Cosmos 782 mission was the first time that the United States participated in a Soviet space mission. International collaboration also came from France, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Roumania. |
Landed: 1975 Dec 15, 05:58 |
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Cosmos 936(Bion № 4) 1977-074A 10172 |
1977 Aug 3, 14:01 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1977 Aug 03, 16:43: 217 x 397 km, 62.81 deg, 90.7 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. The USSR was joined by Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the United States in mounting the mission. The re-entry cabin was recovered. |
Landed: 1977 Aug 22, 03:59 Recovery beacon: TK |
HF Transmit: 19.995 MHz, FSK/PDM |
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Cosmos 1129(Bion № 5) 1979-083A 11536 |
1979 Sep 25, 15:30 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1979 Sep 25, 19:43: 219 x 379 km, 62.83 deg, 90.5 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. The re-entry cabin was recovered. International participation came from the USA, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, Poland, Roumania and the German Democratic Republic. |
Landed: 1979 Oct 14, 04:57 |
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Cosmos 1514(Bion № 6) 1983-121A 14549 |
1983 Dec 14, 07:00 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1983 Dec 14, 14:15: 214 x 259 km, 82.31 deg, 89.2 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. The re-entry cabin was recovered. International participation came from the USA, Bulgaria, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Roumania, Czechoslovakia and France. This was the first Soviet mission to include primates, in the form of two monkeys - Abrek and Bion. Other specimens included rats. Previous Soviet biological mission involving mammals had used dogs as the experimental subjects. |
Landed: 1983 Dec 19, 04:42 |
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Cosmos 1667(Bion № 7) 1985-059A 15891 |
1985 Jul 10, 03:15 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1985 Jul 10, 12:00: 211 x 270 km, 82.35 deg, 89.3 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. Payload included 10 rats and a pair of monkeys (Verniy and Gordiy). The re-entry cabin was recovered. International participation involved the USA, France, Czechoslovakia, Roumania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and the German Democratic Republic. |
Landed: 1985 Jul 17, 00:43 |
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Cosmos 1887(Bion № 8) 1987-083A 18380 |
1987 Sep 29, 12:50 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1987 Sep 29, 23:05: 216 x 384 km, 62.82 deg, 90.5 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. Payload included 10 rats and a pair of monkeys (Drema and Erosha). The re-entry cabin was recovered after a considerable overshoot of the intended landing area. |
Landed: 1987 Oct 12, 04:03 |
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Cosmos 2044(Bion № 9) 1989-075A 20242 |
1989 Sep 15, 06:30 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1989 Sep 16, 06:07: 206 x 264 km, 82.33 deg, 89.2 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. Payload included 10 rats and a pair of monkeys (Jakonya and Zabiyaka). The re-entry cabin was recovered. International participation was by the USA, Hungary, Canada, Poland, the UK, Roumania, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic and the European Space Agency. |
Landed: 1989 Sep 29, 02:53 |
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VHF Transmit: 239.500 MHz, FM |
Cosmos 2229(Bion №10) 1992-095A 22300 |
1992 Dec 29, 13:30 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1992 Dec 29, 20:44: 218 x 375 km, 62.81 deg, 90.4 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. The payload included two monkeys (Ivasha and Krosh). The re-entry cabin was recovered - it landed 100 km north of the city of Karaganda. |
Landed: 1993 Jan 10, 04:15 |
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Bion(Bion №11) 1996-073A 24701 |
1996 Dec 24, 13:50 UTC Plesetsk Cosmodrome Soyuz-U |
1996 Dec 25, 01:36: 217 x 379 km, 62.81 deg, 90.5 min |
Biological research satellite, based on the Zenit film imaging satellite (probably the 2M version) with the experiments payload replacing the cameras. The payload included two monkeys. The re-entry cabin was recovered. |
Landed: 1997 Jan 7, 05:02 |
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Page date: 2011 September
Descriptions updated 2019 September
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