Foton-M 2

Launch data: Designation  28686 / 05020A Launch date  31 May 2005 - 12:00 UT Launch site  B, LC-1 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-U Mission  Micro-gravity Earth orbit on 31 May - 14:52 UT: Perigee / Apogee  259 x 292 km Inclination  62.97° Period  90.02 min

Description:

• First successful launch of the improved Foton-M microgravity spacecraft. It has an increased battery capacity using lithium cells, better thermal control and a new telemetry and telecommand unit for increased data flow rate. Orbital life time is 15 days.
• The first Foton-M was lost in a launch failure on October 15, 2002, when the Soyuz-U carrier rocket exploded few seconds after launch.
• This is the first Foton launch from Baikonur, all previous launches in the series have been from Plesetsk.
• Microgravity research satellite built by Russia, based on the Zenit reconsat with 385 kg payload of 39 experiments provided by the European Space Agency. Retro-fire was quoted by ESA as lasting for 45s and the landing was near Kustanai. The mission was to have included the Fotino re-enty capsule but it was removed from the manifest shortly before launch for budgetary reasons.
• On Jun 16 2005 at 07:36 UT, Foton M-2 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.