Installation of Bion-10 experiments

Two of Bion-10's four KNA (Kontejner Nauchnoi Apparatury) facilities. The Bion capsule traditionally carries four pan-shaped KNAs on its outer surface to expose experiments mounted on two circular plates for radiation physics and radiation biology studies. The KNAs are launched 'open', protected by the Soyuz launcher fairing and closed by springs shortly before reentry. Russia's Bion-10 (Cosmos 2229) life sciences mission provided the opportunity for significant cooperation between ESA and Moscow's Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP). The satellite carried 10 joint ESA/IBMP experiments, with four of them inside ESA's new Biobox incubator and two (SEEDS radiation biology and DOSICOS radiation dosimetry) carried by the KNAs. Bion-10 was launched on 29 December 1992 from Plesetsk and recovered on 10 January 1993. [Image Date: 27-12-92] [98.08.002-010]