MISSION OVERVIEW
Foton-M No.2 was an unmanned Foton-M spacecraft which carried a European payload for the European Space Agency (ESA). The spacecraft carried a 600-kilogram (1,300 lb) payload, including 385 kilograms (849 lb) of experiments; consisting of 39 experiments in fluid physics, biology, material science, meteoritics, radiation dosimetry and exobiology (BIOPAN-5). Some of the experiments were designed by the ESA’s student programme. One notable experiment tested the ability of lichen to survive in space. It was successful, as the lichen survived over 14 days of exposure to space.
LAUNCH DETAILS
VEHICLE
Soyuz-U-PVB
MISSION
Foton-M No. 2
MISSION TYPE
Earth Science
TARGET ORBIT
Low Earth Orbit
LAUNCH PAD
1/5LAUNCH SITE
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of KazakhstanCOUNTRY
RUS
LAUNCH TIME VERIFICATION
CONFIRMEDPrecision: Minute
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: cc9ec261-6b91-4185-8bfa-4f0ea29bbdc4
Reported date: May 31, 2005 at 12:00 UTC
Last synced: 5 hours ago
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
LAUNCH MAP
PAD WEATHER
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VEHICLE
MANUFACTURER
Progress Rocket Space Center
VARIANT
U-PVB
FLIGHTS
74
SUCCESSES
72
SUCCESS RATE
97.3%
A Russian orbital launch vehicle. A version of the Soyuz-U with safety modifications to prevent and resist fires in all stages and the upper stage avionics compartment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is the Soyuz-U-PVB | Foton-M No. 2 launch?
The Soyuz-U-PVB | Foton-M No. 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, May 31, 2005 at 12:00 PM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: SUCCESS.
What rocket is being used for Foton-M No. 2?
The Soyuz-U-PVB | Foton-M No. 2 mission uses the Soyuz-U-PVB rocket, manufactured by Progress Rocket Space Center. The Soyuz-U-PVB has flown 74 times with a 97.3% success rate.
Where is the Soyuz-U-PVB | Foton-M No. 2 launching from?
The launch takes place from 1/5 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.
What orbit is Foton-M No. 2 going to?
The Foton-M No. 2 mission is targeting Low Earth Orbit.
Who is launching Foton-M No. 2?
The Soyuz-U-PVB | Foton-M No. 2 is operated by Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS).
Can I watch the Soyuz-U-PVB | Foton-M No. 2 launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
LAUNCH TIMELINE
Mar 29, 2026 01:08 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
Mar 29, 2026 01:08 UTC
Launch date set: May 31, 2005 at 12:00 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)
Mar 29, 2026 01:08 UTC
Launch completed successfully
Updated via Launch Library 2
LIVE DATA SOURCES
Last data sync: 5 hours ago
●Launch Library 25 hours ago
Launch ID: cc9ec261-6b91-4185-8bfa-4f0ea29bbdc4
●Open-Meteo Weather5 hours ago
Pad weather at 45.92, 63.34
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