Summary
Ekspress-AM3 (Russian: Экспресс-АМ3, meaning Express-AM3) is a Russian domestic communications satellite. It belongs to the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) based in Moscow, Russia. To provide of communications services (digital television, telephony, videoconferencing, data transmission, the Internet access) and to deploy satellite networks by applying VSAT technology to Russia and its neighbors (CIS).[1]
| Names | Экспресс-АМ3 Ekspress-AM3 Express-AM3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) |
| COSPAR ID | 2005-023A |
| SATCAT no. | 28707 |
| Website | eng |
| Mission duration | 12 years (planned) 18 years, 9 months and 29 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Ekspress-AM3 |
| Spacecraft type | KAUR |
| Bus | MSS-2500-GSO[1] |
| Manufacturer | NPO PM (bus) Alcatel Space (payload) |
| Launch mass | 2,542 kg (5,604 lb) |
| Dry mass | 596 kg (1,314 lb) |
| Power | 6 kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 24 June 2005, 19:41:00 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Proton-K / DM-2M |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Contractor | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered service | August 2005 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[3] |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 140° East (2005–present) |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 29 transponders: 16 C-band 12 Ku-band 1 L-band |
| Coverage area | Russia, CIS |
Satellite description edit
The satellite has a total of 29 transponders, was 16 C-band, 12 Ku-band and 1 L-band transponders. The Ekspress-AM3 Russian domestic communications satellite, built by Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev (NPO PM) for Kosmicheskaya Svyaz. The communications payload was built by the French company Alcatel Space.[4]
Launch edit
Ekspress-AM3 was launched by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, using a Proton-K / Blok DM-2M launch vehicle. The launch took place at 19:41:00 UTC on 24 June 2005, from Site 200/39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.[2] Successfully deployed into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), Ekspress-AM3 raised itself into an operational geostationary orbit using its apogee motor.
