Foton-M Spacecraft Put into Orbit

KOROLYOV, Moscow region. Sept 14 (Interfax-AVN) – A Foton-M No 3 spacecraft carrying a mice, lizards, a butterfly, cockroaches and other living beings has been put into orbit.

“Immediately after separation from the third stage of the rocket Soyuz-U, Flight Control Center (FCC) assumed control of the Foton- M,” Interfax was told by the press service of FCC head Valery Lyndin.

“The Foton-M was launched into space from the Baikonur space center by the Soyuz-U rocket used for the launch of Soyuz TMA piloted spacecraft, the cargo spacecraft Progress and spacecraft weighing up to 7,200 kilograms. The Foton-M weighs about 6.5 tonnes.

Some 26 experiments, including ten Russian tests in space technology, the production of materials and biological research, are planned onboard the Foton-M during the mission.

For more details please see Interfax Military News Agency newswire.

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