description Zhakonya Overview
Zhakonya was a Soviet rhesus macaque used in scientific research aboard the Bion 9 satellite, launched in September 1989. Alongside another monkey named Zabiyaka, Zhakonya spent 13 days and 17 hours in low Earth orbit, setting a spaceflight endurance record for primates at the time. The mission was designed to study the physiological effects of microgravity, including radiation exposure and cardiovascular adaptations. The data collected was intended for Soviet space medicine researchers planning long-duration human space missions.
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What space mission did Zhakonya the monkey fly on?
Zhakonya flew on the Bion 9 mission (also designated Kosmos 2044), a Soviet biological research satellite launched in 1989. The mission was part of the Bion program, which studied the effects of spaceflight on living organisms.
How long was Zhakonya in space?
Zhakonya's mission set a monkey space-endurance record of 13 days and 17 hours. This was achieved aboard the Bion 9 satellite in 1989, extending the known limits of primate spaceflight duration at the time.
Was Zhakonya the first monkey in space?
No, Zhakonya was not the first monkey in space. Earlier primate spaceflights include the U.S. flights of Albert (1948–1949) and Ham (1961), as well as earlier Soviet Bion missions in the 1970s and 1980s.
What species was Zhakonya?
Zhakonya was a rhesus macaque, a species commonly used in Soviet and Russian space biology research. The Bion 9 mission in 1989 carried Zhakonya as part of its primate research payload.
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