NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1975-110A
Bion 3 (Cosmos 782) was the first joint U.S.-Soviet biomedical research flight. It carried fourteen experiments prepared by seven countries in all. It included a centrifuge with revolving and fixed sections in which identical groups of animals, plants, and cells could be compared. The subject animals included white rats and tortoises. The effects of aging on fruit fly livers and plant tissues with grafted cancerous growths were also studied. The mission ended after 19.5 days.
The spacecraft was based on the Zenit reconnaissance satellite and launches began in 1973 with primary emphasis on the problems of radiation effects on human beings. Launches in the program included Cosmos 110, 605, 670, 782, plus Nauka modules flown on Zenit-2M reconnaissance satellites. 90 kg of equipment could be contained in the external Nauka module.
Launch Date: 1975-11-25
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz
Launch Site: Plesetsk, U.S.S.R
Mass: 4000 kg
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