Kayser-Threde equipment for FOTON re-entry capsule on its way to RussiaFOTON, the tried-and-tested Russian re-entry capsule, is presently on its way to the cosmodrome Plesetsk, Russia. Most of the experiment integration and testing was previously completed in Samara. The Russian Space Agency has just set the launch date for the FOTON-12 mission for September 7, 1999. Munich's space company Kayser-Threde will again contribute to this Russian µg-flight programme with various experiment equipment and its long-standing experience. Beginning August 2, the rest of the experiments and all samples will be integrated into the capsule. Kayser-Threde is responsible for interface adaptations, tests, integration, mission support for many experiments and is moreover acting as an interface between the parties involved: Scientists, DLR, ESA and the Russian partner ZSKB-Progress. A Sojus launcher will carry FOTON-12 to a height of 200-400 km. After about 10 days under excellent µg conditions in space, the capsule will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and finally touch down in Kazakhstan by means of a parachute system. Experiments and equipment Kayser-Threde is involved in and which are housed inside the FOTON capsule include: The new crystal growth facility POLIZON from the Technical Center SPLAV (Russia)
DLR's QSAM facility for µg-acceleration measurement TU Berlin's AGAT furnace facility for the determination of diffusion coefficients carrying six samples Kayser-Threde's computer DAS pertaining to AGAT, but also collecting data from other experiments.
Apart from German-Russian crystal growth experiments, this unmanned mission also includes BIOPAN, an apparatus designed by Kayser-Threde for ESA. It enables investigation of the behaviour of biological substances in space. To this end, BIOPAN is mounted onto the outer structure of the FOTON capsule, just like ESA?s second experiment called STONE which will carry a number of samples. We will keep you posted!
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