The Bion-M No. 2 biosatellite of Russia contributes to space science through investigating the effect of radiation on organisms and testing low-gravity lunar simulants in preparation for deep-space missions of the future.

The Bion-M No. 2 biosatellite of Russia is going to be launched on Thursday by Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan by the Soyuz rocket. The mission is loaded with 75 mice, 1,500 flies, plants, and microorganisms, a significant development in learning more about biological space science.

The mission is a part of the long-term program Bion of Russia that is based on the study of space medicine and radiation susceptibility. Scientists already plan to investigate the effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation on living things, and results should inform future planning of deep-space missions.

The spacecraft will also carry lunar simulant dust and rock samples representing the surface of the moon that will be subjected to radiation and vacuum conditions to offer information on lunar construction studies.

Roscosmos chose mice as the organism that is close to humans genetically and has a brief life cycle to record the way of change through generations in space conditions. Experimental groups, Earth-based controls, ground-based tests of equipment, and orbital mice will enable them to compare the results.

Mouse health will be monitored in real-time by the monitoring systems and in post-flight studies of the adaptation/readaptation processes. Data collected will be essential to science-based human space expeditions and astronaut health management.

This mission highlights the interest that Russia shows in space-based science that followed the success of the Bion-M No. 1 in 2013. Having more than 10 experimental plans, Bion-M No. 2 should provide useful knowledge in space and earth medicine.