Russia is getting ready to launch the Bion-M No. 2 biosatellite, a special spacecraft built to carry animals into space for research. This time, the tiny passengers will be mice and fruit flies. Scientists want to study how living creatures react to space conditions such as weightlessness and cosmic radiation.
Mice are used because their bodies work in many ways like humans, making them useful for medical studies. Fruit flies, even though very small, are helpful because they grow and reproduce quickly, which allows researchers to see how space affects growth, genes, and future generations.
This mission is not new for Russia. The country has a long history of sending animals into orbit, going back to the early space age. The Bion program is part of that tradition, and it combines modern technology with biological research.
The results of the Bion-M No. 2 mission could be very important for future space travel. If scientists understand how small animals survive and adapt, it will give clues about how humans can stay healthy on long journeys to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Even tiny creatures may help answer big questions about life in space.
