A few days ago, a capsule made a historic landing in the \u00a0Russian steppe\u00a0\u2014an event reminiscent of the early days of the \u00a0space race\u00a0. This was the descent module of the \u00a0Bion-M mission No. 2\u00a0, dispatched from the Baikonur cosmodrome just a month prior. Its unique crew comprised \u00a0cell cultures, seeds, 1,500 fruit flies\u00a0, and \u00a075 male mice\u00a0, of which \u00a065 survived\u00a0 the grueling journey.<\/p>\n
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The spacecraft embarked on a \u00a030-day polar orbit\u00a0, traveling from pole to pole to expose its inhabitants to high levels of \u00a0cosmic radiation\u00a0. This radiation level is \u00a033% higher\u00a0 than what is typically experienced by astronauts aboard the \u00a0International Space Station (ISS)\u00a0. The aim was to simulate conditions that future crews aboard the upcoming \u00a0Russian Space Station\u00a0 would encounter.<\/p>\n
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The mice underwent various treatments\u2014some were genetically modified, while others received specific medications, alongside a control group. The primary objective was to quantify the \u00a0radiation effects\u00a0 on their bodies and evaluate countermeasures such as drugs and shielding techniques, beneficial both in low Earth orbit and for future missions to the \u00a0Moon\u00a0 and \u00a0Mars\u00a0.<\/p>\n
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The mice aboard may never achieve the fame of \u00a0Laika\u00a0, the first living being in space, but they have played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of \u00a0space biology\u00a0. Despite the loss of \u00a010 specimens\u00a0, Russian biomedical experts believe these fatalities stemmed from “complex intragroup conflicts” among the more aggressive male mice. According to Oleg Orlov, the mission director, this outcome is not alarming.<\/p>\n
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To put this into perspective, the previous Bion-M mission in 2013 witnessed a \u00a0tragedy\u00a0, with 29 out of 45 mice perishing due to a failure in life support systems. In contrast, an \u00a087% survival rate\u00a0 in this latest mission represents a significant improvement. The fact that the majority of deaths were due to natural or behavioral causes indicates success in many aspects.<\/p>\n
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The Bion-M capsule, designed based on the Vostok spacecraft\u2014famous for carrying \u00a0Yuri Gagarin\u00a0 into space\u2014returned to Earth under circumstances that were less than serene. Due to its design, the capsule does not have maneuverability features to soften reentry, resulting in a somewhat aggressive landing. As a result, upon impact, the capsule ignited a small fire on the \u00a0Ombourg steppe\u00a0; however, this was quickly managed, primarily due to the \u00a0solid fuel retro-rockets\u00a0 attached to the parachute lines.<\/p>\n
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Alongside the mice, the \u00a0biosatellite\u00a0 also carried a complete biological laboratory, which included \u00a0fungi, lichens, seeds\u00a0, and approximately \u00a01,500 fruit flies\u00a0. These flies form part of a \u00a0multigenerational experiment.\u00a0 After being birthed during the mission’s duration, the \u00a0ninth and tenth generations\u00a0 of these flies are now ready for further studies.<\/p>\n
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The ultimate goal is to continue cultivating this lineage, eventually sending their descendants back to the \u00a0International Space Station\u00a0. Remarkably, these flies have never experienced the effects of \u00a0normal Earth gravity\u00a0, making their study even more valuable for future space biology research.<\/p>\n
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With the completion of the Bion-M mission No. 2, scientists now face months of analysis related to the collected biological data and samples. The \u00a065 surviving mice\u00a0 and their small companions will provide crucial insights that may help ensure greater safety for future endeavors in the cosmos. The long-term implications of this experiment could play a significant role in human space travel, especially for those missions that intend to venture far beyond our immediate orbit.<\/p>\n
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As the world reflects on this mission, the data gathered might not only revolutionize our understanding of biological resilience in extreme conditions but also aid in preparing future explorers for life beyond Earth.<\/p>\n
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Image | ROSCOSMOS<\/p>\n
In Xataka | The ruins of the Soviet space program in Kazakhstan: a hangar surrounded by death and fascination.<\/p>\n