Bion-6 spacecraft displayed

Mockup of Bion-6 (Cosmos 1514) displayed in 1987 in the space pavilion of Moscow's 'Exhibition of National Achievements'. ESA microgravity payloads have flown on such Bion and Foton spacecraft since 1987. Centre is the 2.2 m-diameter spherical reentry capsule. At left is the service module with the retrorocket and telecommand/telemetry equipment. At right is the 'nauka' ('science') battery module, provided with cooling louvres. Note [Image Date: 1987] [98.08.004-003]