Biopan-2 launch preparation

Biopan-2 experiment integration in the bottom tray at ESTEC 3 days before launch. The experiments, already covered by a protective thermal blanket, are BASE (Dr J Cadet, CEA, Grenoble, France), SHRIMP ( Dr A Hernandorena, CERS, Biarritz, France) and VITAMIN (Dr J-P Moatti, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France). Russia's Foton-11 microgravity mission was launched from Plesetsk on 9 October 1997 carrying ESA's Biobox-3 and external Biopan-2 facilities, plus three autonomous experiments, totalling 12 biology experiments involving scientists from France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands and Russia. Foton also carried payloads from CNES and DARA. The descent capsule landed safely 100 km south-east of Kustenai in Kazakhstan on 23 October 1997. [Image Date: 06-10-97] [97.12.010-004]