Foton (satellite)

Foton, also spelled Photon, is the name of two series of Russian science satellites with reentry capsules, adapted from the design of the crewed Vostok capsule. Their main purpose is materials science research in microgravity, though some flights carried biology experiments too. The original Foton series made 12 launches from Plesetsk between 1985 and 1999. The second series, Foton-M, improves on it with a new telemetry and telecommand unit, larger batteries and better thermal control, and is produced by TsSKB-Progress in Samara. Foton-M had four launch attempts: a failure in 2002 caused by the Soyuz-U launcher, then successes from Baikonur in 2005, 2007 and 2014. The capsule cannot control its reentry path, so it is heat-protected on every side and sees up to 8 to 9 g on return. The European Space Agency has been a partner since Foton-7. This entry rests on one encyclopedia article; a second independent source is owed.