Official name FOTON-M2
Alternative name Foton-M No. 2
Cospar ID 2005-020A
Norad ID 28686
Launch date 2005-05-31
Launch site TTMTR
Launch vehicle Soyuz-U
Country/Organization Russia
Type application Micro-gravity
RCS size LARGE
Decay date 2005-06-16
Shape Sphere + Cyl + 1 DCone
Mass (kg) 5615
Diameter (m) 2.4
Height (m) 6.5
Span (m^2) 6.5
Contractors TsSKB-Progress
Propulsion 11D82M
Configuration Zenit bus
Power Batteries

Foton-M is an improved version of the Foton microgravity spacecraft.

It has an increased battery capacity using lithium cells, better thermal control and a new telemetry and telecommand unit for increased data flow rate. Orbital life time is 15 days.

The first launch from Plesetsk failed, when the Soyuz-U carrier rocket exploded few seconds after launch. ESA has contracted for two more flights in 2005 and 2006.

Two more launches, then switched to the Baikonur launch site, were successful.

Beginning with the fourth mission, a new Foton-M spacecraft type was introduced.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
FOTON-M2 2005-020A 2005-05-31 TTMTR Soyuz-U
FOTON-M3 2007-040A 2007-09-14 TTMTR Soyuz-U with YES2