Bion-M n°2

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

17:13:10

Wednesday August 20, 2025

Watch Replay

Official Livestream

Mission Details

Read Article

Track Payloads

Launch Notes

First flight of a derivative of the Vostok spacecraft since 2013.

Bion-M n°2

Bion-M is an uncrewed Russian spacecraft, which is capable of returning to Earth with biological experiments. Bion-M is the next generation of Russian biological research satellites, based on the Vostok spacecraft. While retaining the Vostok spacecraft/Zenit reconnaissance satellite-derived reentry module of the earlier Bion series, the propulsion module has been replaced by one derived from Yantar reconnaissance satellites, providing maneuvering capabilities and longer mission support. Maximum mission duration has been increased to up to 6 months by using solar cells for energy generation. The mass of scientific equipment that can be carried has also been increased by 100 kilograms.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

6,400 kilograms

Rocket

Active
Soyuz 2.1b

Active Since 2008

RKK Energiya logo

Manufacturer

RKK Energiya

Price

$20.00 million

Rocket

Height: 44.08m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 8,020 kg

GTO: 0 kg

Liftoff Thrust

4,550 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 4.11m

Height: 8.36m

Stages

3

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

General Trajectory

Launching

Northeast

Site 31/6

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Fastest Turnaround

47 hr 9 min

Stats

Soyuz 2.1b


97th

Mission

4th

Mission of 2025

2025


186th

Orbital launch attempt