FKA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Federal'noe kosmicheskoe agentstvo Rossii (Roskosmos)
Chronology
1 event
2014 July 18
20:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-2-1A.- Foton M4 - .
Mass: 6,840 kg (15,070 lb). Nation: Russia.
Agency: FKA.
Class: Materials.
Type: Materials science satellite. Spacecraft: Vostok.
Decay Date: 2014-09-01 . USAF Sat Cat: 40095 . COSPAR: 2014-041A. Apogee: 530 km (320 mi). Perigee: 248 km (154 mi). Inclination: 64.88 deg. Period: 92.34 min.
Foton-M, using the Vostok reentry capsule, but a new extended length service module. Microgravity and life sciences experiments were on board, including geckos and tardigrades. The return capsule included samples exposed on the exterior for reentry studies. On July 24 it was revealed that the satellite was not responding to ground commands, although it continued to send back telemetry. Control was later reported to have been regained, but a scheduled orbit raise burn was cancelled, and on August 12 the orbit was still 250 x 542 km. Landed in the Orenburg district on September 1 at 09:18 GMT. The geckos carried as part of the payload were found to have died.