ZHUKOVSKY, Moscow region. Aug 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The Bion-M research vehicle with living organisms aboard will be launched in the second half of 2012, CSK-Progress General Director Alexander Kirillin told Interfax-AVN at the MAKS 2011 show in Zhukovsky.
"The first Bion-M will take off in the second half of next year, in August or in September. There are no questions left," he said.
A source at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences told Interfax-AVN earlier that the bio-capsule would be carrying mice, lizards, gerbils and other living organisms.
"Forty-five mice, 15 gecko lizards, six or eight Mongolian gerbils, 20 snails, diverse microorganisms, seeds and plants will go on a month-long mission," he said.
Five mice will have implants measuring their blood pressure. The information about the mice's condition and reaction to stress will be transmitted to the ground station.