Ekspress (Russian: Экспресс, literally Express) 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.11) |
MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | 1994-10-13 | Proton-K/Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) | Retired | [5][3][4] | |||
Ekspress-2 Ekspress-6 (No.12) |
MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | 1996-09-26 | Proton-K/Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) | Retired | [5][3][4] | |||
Ekspress-A1 Ekspress-6A (No.1) |
MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | Alcatel Space | 1999-10-27 | Proton-K/Blok DM-2 | Failure | 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb) | Lost on launch | [6][3][4] | ||
Ekspress-A2 Ekspress-6A (No.2) |
MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) | Alcatel Space | 2000-03-12 | Proton-K/Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,500 kilograms (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 kilograms (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 kilograms (5,500 lb) | Operational 145.0° E | [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 kilograms (5,604 lb) | Operational 80.0° East | [10][3][4] | ||
Ekspress AM11 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 2004-04-26 | Proton-K/Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,542 kilograms (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 | 2004-10-29 | Proton-K/Blok DM-2M | GEO | Success | 2,542 kilograms (5,604 lb) | Decommissioned on 10 August 2013 | [12][3][4] | |
Ekspress AM2 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 2005-03-29 | Proton-K/Blok DM-2M | Success | 2,542 kilograms (5,604 lb) | Operational 80°E | [13][3][4] | ||
Ekspress AM3 | MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) | Alcatel Space | 2005-06-24 | Proton-K/Blok DM-2 | Success | 2,542 kilograms (5,604 lb) | Operational 103°E | [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°E | [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°W | Launched with Ekspress MD1.[14][3][4] | |
Ekspress MD1 | Yakhta | Thales Alenia Space | 2009-02-11 | Proton-M/Briz-M | GTO | Success | 1,140 kilograms (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°E | [19][3][4] | |
Ekspress AT1 | Ekspress-1000H | Thales Alenia Space | 2014-03-15 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 1,726 kilograms (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 kilograms (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 kilograms (7,403 lb) | Operational 53.0° E | 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 kilograms (12,610 lb) | Operational 40.0° E | [25][3][4] | ||
Ekspress AM8 | Ekspress-1000HTB | Thales Alenia Space | 2015-09-14 | Proton-M / Blok DM-03 | GEO | Success | 2,100 kilograms (4,600 lb) | Operational 14.0° W | [26][3][4][27] | |
Ekspress-AMU1 | Eurostar 3000 | Airbus Defence and Space | 2015-12-24 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | 5,700 kilograms (12,600 lb) | Operational 36.0° E | [28][29][3][4][30] | |
Ekspress 80 | Ekspress-1000H | Thales Alenia Space | 2016 | 2020-07-30 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | N/A | 80.0° East | [31] |
Ekspress 103 | Ekspress-1000H | Thales Alenia Space | 2016 | 2020-07-30 | Proton-M / Briz-M | GEO | Success | N/A | 96.5° East | [32] |
Ekspress-AMU2 | Planned: 2021 | Planned | ||||||||
Ekspress-AMU3 | Planned: 2021 | Planned | ||||||||
Ekspress-AMU4 | Planned: 2021 | Planned | ||||||||
Ekspress-MD3 | Planned: 2021 | Planned |