Biopan recovery from Foton-11

ESA's Biopan experiment carrier awaits installation in its thermally-controlled transport container following removal from Foton-11's descent capsule after a successful mission. The white paint used to improve in-orbit thermal characteristics has been almost completely burned away, revealing the same heatshielding material as used by the main capsule. 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: 23-10-97] [97.12.010-022]