Bion-M No.1
Bion-M No.1 is a Russian robotic space mission, part of the Bion series focused on space medicine.
Launch
The animal-carrying space capsule was launched into orbit on 19 April 2013, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The Bion-M flew a 30-day mission. The satellite was launched in a ride-share along with 6 small satellites - OSSI-1, Dove-2, AIST 2, BEESat 3, SOMP and BEESat 2.Return to Earth was on 19 May with a landing near Orenburg in Russia at 03:12 GMT.
Satellite
The satellite has components from two long-standing Soviet spy satellite families. Bion's landing unit is from the Zenit 2M satellite and the satellite also carries an instrument section developed for the Yantar satellite. The satellite was made by TsSKB Progress of Samara.The cargo consisted of 45 mice, 15 geckos, eight Mongolian gerbils, snails, and fish. The animals were intended to survive the entire mission, but upon landing it was found that all gerbils, most of the 45 mice, and all of the fish were dead due to equipment failure. Fifteen of the mice died when the food dispenser in their experimental compartment stopped working. The gerbil compartment suffered a temporary loss of power, ventilation, lighting, and food supply that likely accounts for their demise. Ultimately, all of the remaining animals were euthanized for study. The Bion-M No.1 mission was managed by Roscosmos, but scientists from the United States, Germany, Canada, Poland, the Netherlands and other countries also participated in the experiments.
| Organism | Number sent | Number survived | Cause of death |
| Mongolian gerbils | 8 | all died | Equipment failure |
| mice | 45 | 16 | food supply failure, stress |
| geckos | 15 | survived | |
| fish | all died | Equipment failure | |
| snails | 20 | survived | |
| other, including microorganisms | survived |