Ekspress (Russian: Экспресс, literallyExpress) is a communication and broadcasting system developed and operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). It is the largest network of Russia and its slots cover an arc in geostationary orbit from 14.0° West to 145.0° East. This allows it to cover the whole territory of Russia, the CIS, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, North and South America, and Australia. [1]
The only other Russian civilian satellite operator is Gazprom Space Systems with its Yamal constellation. [2]
While the Ekspress constellation started with a single model, during the years it has used many suppliers and many models. [3] [4]
Satellite | Bus | Payload | Order | Launch | Launch Vehicle | Intended Orbit | Launch Result | Launch Weight | Status | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ekspress-1 Ekspress-2 (No.11L) | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | 13 October 1994 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) | Retired | [5] [3] [4] | |||
Ekspress-2 Ekspress-6 (No.12L) | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | 26 September 1996 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) | Retired | [5] [3] [4] | |||
Ekspress-A1 Ekspress-6A (No.1) | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | Alcatel Space | 27 October 1999 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2 | Failure | 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) | Lost on launch | [6] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-A2 Ekspress-6A (No.2) | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | Alcatel Space | 12 March 2000 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) | Retired | [6] [3] [4] [7] | ||
Ekspress-A3 Ekspress-3A (No.3) | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | Alcatel Space | 2000-06-23 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2 | Success | 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) | Retired | [6] [3] [4] [8] | ||
Ekspress-A4 Ekspress-A1R (No.4) | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | Alcatel Space | 2002-06-10 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) | Retired in January 2020 | [6] [3] [4] [9] | ||
Ekspress-AM22 SESAT-2 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 2003-12-28 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,542 kg (5,604 lb) | Retired in January 2019 | [10] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-AM11 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 2004-04-26 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,542 kg (5,604 lb) | Retired on 28 March 2006 | Debris punctured the pressure vessel on 28 March 2006, put on a graveyard orbit. [11] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-AM1 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | NEC and Toshiba | 29 October 2004 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,542 kg (5,604 lb) | Decommissioned on 10 August 2013 | [12] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-AM2 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 29 March 2005 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,542 kg (5,604 lb) | Retired in 2016 | [13] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-AM3 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 2005-06-24 | Proton-K / Blok DM-2 | Success | 2,542 kg (5,604 lb) | Operational 140° East | [13] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-AM33 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 2008-01-28 | Proton-M / Briz-M | Success | 2,560 kg (5,640 lb) | Operational 96.5° East | [14] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-AM44 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 2009-02-11 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GTO | Success | 2,560 kg (5,640 lb) | Operational 11° West | Launched with Ekspress MD1. [14] [3] [4] | |
Ekspress-MD1 | Yakhta | Thales Alenia Space | 2009-02-11 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GTO | Success | 1,140 kg (2,510 lb) | Failed 4 July 2013 | Launched with Ekspress AM44. Satellite experienced technical failure on 4 July 2013. [15] [16] [17] | |
Ekspress-AM4 | Eurostar-3000 | 2011-08-17 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GTO | Partial failure | 5,775 kg (12,732 lb) | Deorbited in March 2012 | Stranded in useless orbit. Deorbited in March 2012. [18] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-MD2 | Yakhta | Thales Alenia Space | 2012-08-06 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Partial failure | 1,140 kg (2,510 lb) | Lost on launch | Launched with Telkom 3. Stranded in useless orbit. [15] [16] | |
Ekspress-AM5 | Ekspress-2000 | MDA | 2013-12-26 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 3,358 kg (7,403 lb) | Operational 140° East | [19] [3] [4] | |
Ekspress-AT1 | Ekspress-1000H | Thales Alenia Space | 2014-03-15 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 1,726 kg (3,805 lb) | Operational 56.0° East | Launched with Ekspress-AT2. [20] [21] [3] [4] | |
Ekspress-AT2 | Ekspress-1000K | Thales Alenia Space | 2014-03-15 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 1,427 kg (3,146 lb) | Operational 140.0° East | Launched with Ekspress-AT1. [22] [23] [3] [4] | |
Ekspress-AM4R | Eurostar-3000 | 2014-05-15 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GTO | Failure | 5,775 kg (12,732 lb) | Lost on launch | [13] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-AM6 | Ekspress-2000 | MDA | 2014-10-21 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Partial success | 3,358 kg (7,403 lb) | Operational 53.0° East | Left in lower than intended orbit. Company claimed success. [24] [3] [4] | |
Ekspress-AM7 | Eurostar-3000 | 2015-03-18 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GTO | Success | 5,720 kg (12,610 lb) | Operational 40.0° East | [25] [3] [4] | ||
Ekspress-AM8 | Ekspress-1000H | Thales Alenia Space | 2015-09-14 | Proton-M / Blok DM-03 | GEO | Success | 2,100 kg (4,600 lb) | Operational 14.0° West | [26] [3] [4] [27] | |
Ekspress-AMU1 | Eurostar-3000 | Airbus Defence and Space | 2015-12-24 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 5,700 kg (12,600 lb) | Operational 36.0° East | [28] [29] [3] [4] [30] | |
Ekspress-103 | Ekspress-1000H | Thales Alenia Space | 2016 | 30 July 2020 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 2,050 kg (4,520 lb) | Operational 96.5° East | [31] [32] |
Ekspress-80 | Ekspress-1000H | Thales Alenia Space | 2016 | 30 July 2020 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 1,947 kg (4,292 lb) | Operational 80.0° East | [33] |
Ekspress-AMU3 | Ekspress-1000N | Thales Alenia Space | 13 December 2021 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 2,150 kg (4,740 lb) | Operational 103.0° East | Launched with Ekspress-AMU7. Will replace Ekspress-AM33. [34] [35] | |
Ekspress-AMU7 | Ekspress-1000N | Thales Alenia Space | 13 December 2021 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 1,980 kg (4,370 lb) | Operational 145.0° East | Launched with Ekspress-AMU3. Will replace Ekspress-A4. [34] [35] | |
Ekspress-RV1 | Ekspress | 2024 | HEO | Planned | Planned | Launching into a highly elliptical orbit to cover the Far North region. [35] [36] | ||||
Ekspress-RV2 | Ekspress | 2024 | HEO | Planned | Planned | Launching into a highly elliptical orbit to cover the Far North region. [35] [36] | ||||
Ekspress-RV3 | Ekspress | 2024 | HEO | Planned | Planned | Launching into a highly elliptical orbit to cover the Far North region. [35] [36] | ||||
Ekspress-RV4 | Ekspress | 2024 | HEO | Planned | Planned | Launching into a highly elliptical orbit to cover the Far North region. [35] [36] | ||||
Ekspress-AMU5 | Ekspress | 2025 | GEO | Planned | Planned 140.0° East | Will replace Ekspress-AM5. [35] [37] | ||||
Ekspress-AMU4 | Ekspress-1000 | 2026 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Planned | Planned 11.0° West | Will replace Ekspress-AM44. [35] [37] [38] | |||
Ekspress-AMU6 | Ekspress | 2026 | GEO | Planned | Planned 53.0° East | Will replace Ekspress-AM6. [35] [37] | ||||
Ekspress-AT3 | Ekspress | 2027 | GEO | Planned | Planned 56.0° East | Will replace Ekspress-AT1. [35] [37] | ||||
Ekspress-AT4 | Ekspress | 2027 | GEO | Planned | Planned 140.0° East | Will replace Ekspress-AT2. [35] [37] | ||||
Ekspress-40 | Ekspress | 2028 | GEO | Planned | Planned 40.0° East | Will replace Ekspress-AM7. [35] [37] | ||||
Ekspress-36 | Ekspress | 2029 | GEO | Planned | Planned 36.0° East | Will replace Ekspress-AMU1. [35] [37] | ||||
Ekspress-AMU8 | Ekspress | 2030 | GEO | Planned | Planned 14.0° West | Will replace Ekspress-AM8. [35] [37] | ||||
Ekspress, is a series of geostationary communications satellites owned by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). The first satellite of this kind was launched on 13 October 1994. The satellites are produced by the company Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev.
Ekspress-A2, also designated Ekspress-6A No 2 and sometimes erroneously called Ekspress-2A, is a Russian communications satellite which is operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). It was constructed by NPO PM and Alcatel Space and is based on the MSS-2500-GSO satellite bus.
Ekspress-A3, also designated Ekspress-3A, is a Russian communications satellite which is operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) and EUTELSAT.
Ekspress-AM22 is a Russian communications satellite. It belongs to the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) based in Moscow, Russia.
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).
Yamal-401 is a Russian geostationary communications satellite operated by Gazprom Space Systems. It was built by ISS Reshetnev and is based on the Ekspress-2000 satellite bus. It is equipped with 17 C-band and 36 Ku-band transponders. It has a design life of 15 years.
Ekspress-AM8 is a Russian communications satellite which was launched in 2015. Part of the Ekspress series of geostationary communications satellites, it is owned and operated by the RSCC Space Communications.
The USP, for Universal Space Platform, also known as Viktoria (Виктория), is a highly flexible satellite bus designed and manufactured by RSC Energia. It is called universal because it has been designed to be operated from LEO to GEO. It is a three axis stabilized platform with electric propulsion for station keeping, but chemical propellant is offered as an option. The bus can offer up to 3000 W of power and a payload capacity up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) for Low Earth orbit or HEO an up to 300 kg (660 lb) for geostationary orbit.
The Ekspress is a highly flexible satellite bus designed and manufactured by ISS Reshetnev. It is an unpressurized bus originally designed for GEO, but that has been adapted for medium Earth orbit and to highly elliptical orbit. It has different versions and has been used from civilian communications to satellite navigation.
Yamal-300K is a geostationary communications satellite operated by Gazprom Space Systems and built by ISS Reshetnev on the Ekspress-1000 satellite bus. It was the first switch of satellite supplier in Yamal programme after Gazprom had disagreements on the schedule and cost of Yamal-301 and Yamal-302 with RSC Energia. It is a 1,870 kg (4,120 lb) satellite with 5.6 kW of power on an unpressurized bus designed for direct geostationary orbit injection with 14 years of design life. Its payload was supplied by Thales Alenia Space and is composed of 8 x 72 MHz C-band and 18 x 72 MHz Ku-band transponders for a 36 MHz equivalent of 52 transponders. Its transmitted power is 110 watts in C-band and 140 watts in Ku-band.
Yamal is a communication and broadcasting system developed and operated by Gazprom Space Systems. Born out of the connectivity needs of the natural gas extraction giant Gazprom, the system was spun off in its own company, and opened the network to third parties and even went into the public broadcasting industry. Yamal and Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC)'s Ekspress constellation are the only two national satellite operators in Russia.
Ekspress-AMU1, also known as Eutelsat 36C, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) and designed and manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space on the Eurostar-3000 satellite bus for its Ekspress constellation. It massed 5,892 kg (12,990 lb) at launch, had a power production capacity of 15 kW and a 15-year design life. Its payload is composed of 61 Ku-band and 10 Ka-band transponders.
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.
Ekspress-A1, also designated Ekspress-6A No.1, is a Russian communications satellite which is operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC).
Ekspress-80 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.
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.
Ekspress-AMU7 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-A4.