Ekspress-AM4

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Ekspress-AM4
NamesExpress-AM4
Mission type Communications
Operator Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC)
COSPAR ID 2011-045A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 37798
Website https://eng.rscc.ru/
Mission duration15 years (planned)
Failed on orbit
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftEkspress-AM4
Spacecraft type Ekspress
Bus EADS Astrium
Manufacturer Eurostar-3000
Launch mass5,775 kg (12,732 lb)
Power14 kW
Start of mission
Launch date17 August 2011, 21:25:01 UTC [1]
Rocket Proton-M / Briz-M
Launch site Baikonur, Site 200/39
Contractor Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
End of mission
DisposalDeorbited
Decay date28 March 2012
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit [2]
Regime Medium Earth orbit
Geostationary orbit (planned)
Longitude80° East (planned)
Perigee altitude 695 km (432 mi)
Apogee altitude 20,239 km (12,576 mi)
Inclination 51.1°
Period 6.04 hours
Transponders
Band63 transponders:
30 C-band,
28 Ku-band,
2 Ka-band,
3 L-band
Coverage areaRussia
 

Ekspress-AM4 was a Russian communications satellite placed into the wrong orbit from a faulty Briz-M rocket stage. This satellite was to be part of the Ekspress series of geostationary communications satellites owned by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). Proposals were made to reposition the satellite to provide broadband services to Antarctica, but ultimately the decision was made to de-orbit the satellite. On 28 March 2012, the satellite splashed into the Pacific Ocean. [3]

Contents

Satellite description

The total mass of the Ekspress-AM4 satellite was 5,775 kg (12,732 lb), and the satellite had 63 transponders. The onboard antennas were capable of broadcasting in the C-band, Ku-band, L-band, and Ka-band. The satellite's orbit was measured at 695 by 20239 km altitude, with an inclination orbit of 51.1°. Though the satellite was placed in the wrong orbit, there was no damage to the satellite, meaning that it became the subject of numerous reuse proposals.

Launch

The Ekspress-AM4 satellite was launched on 17 August 2011 on a Russian Proton-M launch vehicle from Kazakhstan, which included a Briz-M upper stage. [4] It was just after launch that the Briz-M stage did not separate from the Ekspress satellite, causing it to be placed into the wrong orbit. [5] Contact was lost with the satellite and with its attached Briz M upper stage about six hours after the pair were launched. Telemetry stopped either during or after the fourth of five planned Briz M upper stage burns planned to occur during a nine-hour maneuver designed to insert the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). [6]

Reuse proposals

One of the most notable reuse proposals came from a company called Polar Broadband Systems, which was established in December 2011. Its objectives were to submit proposals for the reuse of semi-retired and retired satellites for use with communications over the Antarctic. The company notes that it would not have been feasible to build a dedicated satellite for the region as the population would not justify the expense, however Ekspress-AM4 would suffice as it could have been maneuvered into the required orbit. There was enough fuel on board for it to be operational for ten years, with giving the Antarctic region 16 hours of broadband access a day. Similarly, Australian company Antarctic Broadband [7] proposed a similar scheme for Antarctic communications, however neither were successful. [8]

Deorbited

Dennis Pivnyuk, chief financial officer of the Russian Satellite Communications Company, informed on 15 March 2012 that the satellite would be decommissioned and deorbited. He stated that the descent phase would start on 20 March 2012, with the spacecraft reentering over the Pacific Ocean around 26 March 2012. The spacecraft was destroyed during reentry on 28 March 2012. [9]

Related Research Articles

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Ekspress AM5 Russian communications satellite

Ekspress-AM5 is a Russian communications satellite which was launched in 2013. Part of the Ekspress series of geostationary communications satellites, it is owned and operated by the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). This satellite is a part of the Ekspress series of geostationary communications satellites.

Ekspress-AM4R was a Russian communications satellite intended for operation by the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). Constructed as a replacement for Ekspress-AM4, which was left unusable after the upper stage of the launch vehicle carrying it malfunctioned, Ekspress-AM4R was also lost due to a launch failure.

Ekspress-AM6 is a Russian communications satellite which was launched in 2014. The satellite has replaced the older Ekspress-AM22, at 53° East. Part of the Ekspress series of geostationary communications satellites, it is owned and operated by the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC).

Ekspress-AM7 is a Russian communications satellite operated by the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC).

Ekspress-MD1, was a Russian geostationary communications satellite operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) and designed and manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center on the Yakhta satellite bus for RSCC's Ekspress series. It massed 1,140 kg (2,510 lb) at launch, had a power production capacity of 1300 watts with a C-band and L-band payload.

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Ekspress-AM33 is a Russian domestic communications satellite. It belongs to the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) based in Moscow, Russia. To provide of communications services and to deploy satellite networks by applying Very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) technology to Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and the Middle East.

Ekspress-103 is a Russian communications satellite which was launched in 2020. Part of the Ekspress series of geostationary communications satellites, it is owned and operated by the RSCC Space Communications.

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Ekspress-AMU3 is a Russian domestic communications satellite. It belongs to the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) based in Moscow, Russia. To provide of communications services and to deploy satellite networks by applying VSAT technology to Russia. Replacement for Ekspress-AM3.

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References

  1. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  2. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Second Life for Failed Russian Satellite" Retrieved 1 April 2012
  4. ↑ Parfitt, Tom (18 August 2011). "Russian satellite missing within hours of takeoff". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  5. ↑ "Repurposing Express-AM4: Mission Possible: Recycling Space Junk into Antarctic Science Treasure" Retrieved 1 April 2012
  6. ↑ "Display: Ekspress-AM4 2011-045A". NASA. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  7. ↑ "Antarctic Broadband"
  8. ↑ "Lost Russian Communications Satellite Found in Wrong Orbit". SPACE.com. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  9. ↑ "Dead Russian Satellite to Fall From Space" Archived 23 February 2013 at archive.today Retrieved 1 April 2012
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