Foton-8 pre-flight tests

Pre-flight tests on the Foton-8 capsule at Russia's northern Plesetsk cosmodrome. Visible at top is the large attachment ring for Foton's external battery pack. The grey circle, being touched by a technician's hand, awaits the installation of ESA's Biopan, designed and manufactured for ESA by Kayser-Threde to open in orbit to expose experiments to the space environment. Foton-8 carried the Biopan-0 demonstration version. Foton and Bion recoverable satellites have, since 1987, regularly carried ESA payloads into orbit. ESA's Biobox, Biopan and FluidPac flight facilities were specifically designed for Bion/Foton missions. Foton-8 was launched on 8 October 1992 and recovered near the Kazakh city of Kustanay on 24 October 1992. [Image Date: 1992/10] [98.08.004-008]