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• PRODEX - Position within ESA
• PRODEX - Introduction
• PRODEX - Its framework
• PRODEX - Which topics?
• PRODEX - How does it work?
• PRODEX - The running projects
• PRODEX - The people

Foton spacecraft are based on the design of the Russian Vostok spacecraft, in which Yuri Gagarin was put into orbit in 1961 and the Zenit military reconnaissance satellite. Bion was the first of the Foton type of unmanned spacecraft to be launched in 1973 with the emphasis on how the space environment acts on living creatures. ESA were involved in three Bion missions: Bion-8 in 1987 Bion-9 in 1989 and Bion-10 in 1992.

Foton was first launched into low-earth orbit in 1985. The earlier Foton missions were conceived primarily for materials science research, but later missions also began to include experiments in the fields of fluid physics, biology and radiation dosimetry. ESA's participation in eight previous missions started in 1991 with a protein crystallisation experiment on-board Foton-7. The previous mission with ESA involvement was the Foton-M2 mission in 2005. Foton M is an improved version of the spacecraft, with larger battery capacity, enhanced thermal control and increased telemetry and telecommand capabilities for increased data flow. Foton-M3 becomes the ninth Foton mission with ESA involvement.

Proceedings of the Conference on Academic and Industrial Cooperation in Space Research, Vienna, Austria, 4-6 November 1998.

PRODEX is an ESA optional scientific programme. It was created at a time when several ESA member states were limited in the funding of experiments and instruments for ESA missions desired by universities or other scientific institutes. One of the Programme most important roles is to facilitate dialogue and cooperation between the scientific circles and private industry. The Agency provides both administrative and financial management and technical support. The current Participating States are Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Austria, Norway and Denmark. Furthermore, PRODEX has the advantage of being able to expand ESA's sphere of operations since it is also available to non-member States, thereby attracting the interest and support of other countries, especially those with which ESA has entered into co-operation agreements. So far, this possibility has been recognised by Hungary, which became this year the first Non-Member State participating to the Programme. The PRODEX Programme Office fulfils the role of co-ordinating experiment development and awarding industrial contracts.