Since the Gemini missions in the 1960s, it has been known that astronauts lose bone mass during spaceflights. Typically, spacefarers lose 1-2% of their bone mass per month in space, but some astronauts may lose up to 10 % on a three-month mission, which is similar to advanced osteoporosis on Earth. The cellular mechanism of increased bone loss in microgravity is currently unknown. Research into the mechanisms of bone loss in space may well increase understanding of bone physiology and disease processes, and contribute to better treatments and possibly even cures.

The Canadian Space Agency developed the Osteoporosis Experiments in Orbit (OSTEO) mission to study bone cell activity in space. OSTEO is a turnkey cell culture and support system for use in terrestrial and microgravity experiments. The system was designed for short-term Shuttle experiments lasting approximately 10 days, and requires manual operation by an astronaut. The OSTEO system was successfully operated on STS-95 (Discovery), allowing Canadian and European investigators to study and quantify bone cell activity and evaluate potential anti-osteoporosis treatments. OSTEO was also operated successfully on STS-107, but the results were lost when in the Columbia accident in February 2003.

While the shuttle program was suspended, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency developed an idea to use a modified version of OSTEO in an unmanned Russian recoverable satellite called Foton M3. Known as eOSTEO (for "enhanced OSTEO"), the result is a fully automated version of its predecessor. This mini science lab is slated for launch on September 14, 2007 on a Foton M3 satellite from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. eOSTEO will be part of 35 life and physical sciences experiments (most sponsored by ESA) that will orbit Earth for 12 days. There will be two versions of eOSTEO on board: one Canadian and one known as eRISTO from the European Space Agency.

During the flight, satellite ground stations in Moscow, Sweden and Canada will communicate with Foton M3 to monitor, and correct if required, the progress of the experiments and status of Foton M3. The Foton M3 will re-enter the atmosphere and land near the border of Russian and Kazakhstan on September 26, 2007. eOSTEO will then be brought back to the Netherlands, and the bone cells will shipped back to Canada for detailed scientific studies. The results are expected to be made available to the public between 6-12 months afterwards.

For eOSTEO, the Canadian Space Agency is partnering with the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Millenium Biologix Inc. and Systems Technologies developed the hardware, and Orion Canada supported preparations for launch.