Russia Launches Bion-M No.2 with Mice, Flies, and Seeds to Study Space Biology

Russia’s latest resupply mission to low-Earth orbit has delivered a unique scientific cargo: 75 mice, 1,000 fruit flies, microbes, cell cultures, and plant seeds aboard the Bion-M No.2 biosatellite. Over the next month, these organisms will orbit Earth, helping scientists study how microgravity and cosmic radiation affect life. Some mice are genetically engineered to test radiation sensitivity, while lunar soil simulants will shed light on dust behavior in space. The mission aims to advance research critical for long-duration human spaceflight to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.