ESA's Biopan experiment carrier awaits installation in its thermally-controlled transport container following removal from Foton-11's descent capsule after a successful mission. Surprisingly, the aluminium hinge used for in-orbit opening/closing did not melt during reentry, unlike in the previous two Biopan flights. Foton-11 uniquely carried Germany's MIRKA reentry capsule on top instead of the standard battery pack (batteries were carried internally for this mission), probably altering the centre of gravity and moving Biopan into a cooler flow. The white paint used to improve in-orbit thermal characteristics has been almost completely burned away, revealing the same heatshielding material as used by the main capsule. Russia's Foton-11 microgravity mission was launched from Plesetsk on 9 October 1997 carrying ESA's Biobox-3 and external Biopan-2 facilities, plus three autonomous experiments, totalling 12 biology experiments involving scientists from France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands and Russia. Foton also carried payloads from CNES and DARA. The descent capsule landed safely 100 km south-east of Kustenai in Kazakhstan on 23 October 1997. [Image Date: 23-10-97] [97.12.010-021]