| Bion 11 | |
| Mission Type: | Bioscience |
| Operator: | Institute of Biomedical Problems |
| Cospar Id: | 1996-073A |
| Satcat: | 24701 |
| Mission Duration: | 14 days (achieved) |
| Spacecraft: | Bion 11 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Bion |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Zenit |
| Manufacturer: | TsSKB Progress |
| Launch Mass: | [1] |
| Launch Date: | 24 December 1996, 13:50:00 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Soyuz 11A511U (s/n V15000-050) |
| Launch Site: | Plesetsk, Site 43/4 |
| Launch Contractor: | TsSKB Progress |
| Recovery By: | Russian Space Forces |
| Landing Date: | 7 January 1997, 05:02 UTC |
| Landing Site: | Kustani, Kazakhstan |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit[2] |
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth orbit |
| Orbit Inclination: | 62.80° |
| Orbit Period: | 90.50 minutes |
| Orbit Rev Number: | 214 |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Programme: | Bion/Bion-M programme |
| Previous Mission: | Bion 10 |
| Next Mission: | Bion-M No.1 |
Bion 11 was a Russian biological research satellite that was part of the Bion programme. Scientists from France, Russia and United States conducted the experiments. Bion 11 was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-U launch vehicle. It carried two monkeys named Lalik and Multik. The spacecraft type was based on the Zenit reconnaissance satellite and launches of Bion satellites began in 1973 with primary emphasis on the problems of radiation effects on human beings. Launches in the program included Kosmos 110, 605, 670, 782, plus Nauka modules flown on Zenit-2M reconnaissance satellites. 90 kg of equipment could be contained in the external Nauka module.[3]
It carried newts, snails, Drosophila flies and other insects, bacteria, and two macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta), Lapik and Multik. Both monkeys were safe at landing but Multik died of a heart attack during medical tests under general anaesthetic on 8 January 1997.
The Magee-8 scientific equipment was designed to study the basic features of electrostatic modular protection system. Other equipment was used to maintain the temperature and humidity within the specified range, the atmospheric regeneration, physiological parameters of the monkeys were recorded and transferred them to the ground in TV picture.
A similar mission "Bion-12" was scheduled for December 1998 but did not take place due to cessation of participation of the United States.