Foton (or Photon) is the project name of two series of Russian science satellite and reentry vehicle programs. Although uncrewed, the design was adapted from the crewed Vostok spacecraft capsule. The primary focus of the Foton project is materials science research, but some missions have also carried experiments for other fields of research including biology. The original Foton series included 12 launches from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome from 1985 to 1999.
The second series, under the name Foton-M, incorporates many design improvements over the original Foton, and is still in use. So far, there have been four launch attempts of the Foton-M. The first was in 2002 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, which ended in failure due to a problem in the launch vehicle. The last three were from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, in 2005, 2007, and 2014; all were successful. Both the Foton and Foton-M series used Soyuz-U (11A511U and 11A511U2) rockets as launch vehicles. Starting with the Foton-7 mission, the European Space Agency has been a partner in the Foton program.[1]
Foton-M is a new generation of Russian robotic spacecraft for research conducted in the microgravity environment of Earth orbit. The Foton-M design is based on the design of the Foton, with several improvements including a new telemetry and telecommand unit for increased data flow rate, increased battery capacity, and a better thermal control system. It is produced by TsSKB-Progress in Samara.
The launch of Foton-M1 failed because of a malfunction of the Soyuz-Ulauncher. The second launch (of Foton-M2) was a success.[2] Foton-M3 was launched on 14 September 2007, carried by a Soyuz-U rocket lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan[3] with Nadezhda, a cockroach that became the first Earth creature to produce offspring that had been conceived in space. It returned successfully to Earth on 26 September 2007, landing in Kazakhstan at 7:58 GMT.[4]
Reentryedit
The Foton capsule has limited thruster capability. As such, the reentry path and orientation can not be controlled after the capsule has separated from the engine system. This means that the capsule has to be protected from reentry heat on all sides, thus explaining the spherical design (as opposed to Project Mercury's conical design), which allows for maximum volume while minimizing the external surface. However, the lack of lift means the capsule experiences high forces on reentry, up to 8 to 9g.
Foton launchesedit
Designation
Launch Date
Recovery Date
Mission Payload(s)
Notes
Foton-1
1985-04-16
?
Re-entry capsule will be on display at the Deutsches Museum in Nuremberg, Germany
Carried Nadezhda, a cockroach that mated during the mission and later produced the first earthlings conceived in space. And Also Carried Tardigrades into space.
Planned two-month mission was reduced to 44 days due to communications failure after launch and a missed rocket burn to the planned 575-kilometer (357-mile) orbit. Five geckos, launched to track their sexual habits in space, died during the mission.[8]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Foton (satellite).
(from Encyclopedia Astronautica)
Russian Space Web
May 02, 2024
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Foton or Photon is the project name of two series of Russian science satellite and reentry vehicle programs Although uncrewed the design was adapted from the crewed Vostok spacecraft capsule The primary focus of the Foton project is materials science research but some missions have also carried experiments for other fields of research including biology The original Foton series included 12 launches from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome from 1985 to 1999 Foton 6 s re entry capsule on display at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville Oregon The second series under the name Foton M incorporates many design improvements over the original Foton and is still in use So far there have been four launch attempts of the Foton M The first was in 2002 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome which ended in failure due to a problem in the launch vehicle The last three were from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in 2005 2007 and 2014 all were successful Both the Foton and Foton M series used Soyuz U 11A511U and 11A511U2 rockets as launch vehicles Starting with the Foton 7 mission the European Space Agency has been a partner in the Foton program 1 Contents 1 Foton M 2 Reentry 3 Foton launches 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksFoton M editFoton M is a new generation of Russian robotic spacecraft for research conducted in the microgravity environment of Earth orbit The Foton M design is based on the design of the Foton with several improvements including a new telemetry and telecommand unit for increased data flow rate increased battery capacity and a better thermal control system It is produced by TsSKB Progress in Samara The launch of Foton M1 failed because of a malfunction of the Soyuz U launcher The second launch of Foton M2 was a success 2 Foton M3 was launched on 14 September 2007 carried by a Soyuz U rocket lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 3 with Nadezhda a cockroach that became the first Earth creature to produce offspring that had been conceived in space It returned successfully to Earth on 26 September 2007 landing in Kazakhstan at 7 58 GMT 4 Reentry editThe Foton capsule has limited thruster capability As such the reentry path and orientation can not be controlled after the capsule has separated from the engine system This means that the capsule has to be protected from reentry heat on all sides thus explaining the spherical design as opposed to Project Mercury s conical design which allows for maximum volume while minimizing the external surface However the lack of lift means the capsule experiences high forces on reentry up to 8 to 9g Foton launches editDesignation Launch Date Recovery Date Mission Payload s Notes Foton 1 1985 04 16 Re entry capsule will be on display at the Deutsches Museum in Nuremberg Germany Foton 2 1986 05 21 Foton 3 1987 04 24 Foton 4 1988 04 14 Foton 5 1989 04 26 Foton 6 1990 04 11 Re entry capsule on display at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville Oregon USA 5 Foton 7 1991 10 04 Foton 8 1992 10 08 Foton 9 1994 06 14 Foton 10 1995 02 16 Foton 11 1997 10 09 Foton 12 1999 09 09 6 1999 09 24 6 Re entry capsule on display at the European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk Netherlands 7 Foton M No 1 2002 10 15 N A Lost due to a launch failure Foton M No 2 2005 05 31 2005 06 16 Foton M No 3 2007 09 14 2007 09 26 Young Engineers Satellite 2 Carried Nadezhda a cockroach that mated during the mission and later produced the first earthlings conceived in space And Also Carried Tardigrades into space Foton M No 4 2014 07 18 2014 09 01 Planned two month mission was reduced to 44 days due to communications failure after launch and a missed rocket burn to the planned 575 kilometer 357 mile orbit Five geckos launched to track their sexual habits in space died during the mission 8 References 9 10 11 See also editBiosatellite Bion BIOPAN Animals in spaceReferences edit Foton ESA Archived from the original on 2006 03 23 European experiments successfully launched aboard Foton spacecraft ESA Lift off for Foton microgravity mission ESA Foton M3 experiments return to Earth Retrieved 2007 09 26 Aircraft and Exhibits Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum 2012 Archived from the original on 1 May 2013 Retrieved 16 December 2012 a b Foton 12 mission ESA 19 January 2001 Archived from the original on January 17 2005 Retrieved 16 December 2012 Focus on Foton ESA 19 December 2001 Retrieved 16 December 2012 Russian spacecraft back on Earth after six week mission 1 September 2014 Retrieved 2 September 2014 Foton 34KS space skyrocket de Retrieved 2016 12 18 Foton M 1 2 3 34KS space skyrocket de Retrieved 2016 12 18 Foton M 4 5 34KSM space skyrocket de Retrieved 2016 12 18 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Foton satellite Foton from Encyclopedia Astronautica Russian Space Web Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Foton satellite amp oldid 1189942323 Foton M, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
