Ekspress-A1
Ekspress-A1 (Russian: Экспрeсс-А1 meaning Express-A1), also designated Ekspress-6A No.1, is a Russian communications satellite which is operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC).
| Names | Экспрeсс-А1 Express-A1 Ekspress-6A No.1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communication |
| Operator | Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) |
| Website | https://eng.rscc.ru/ |
| Mission duration | 7 years (planned) Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Ekspress-A1 |
| Spacecraft type | KAUR |
| Bus | MSS-2500-GSO |
| Manufacturer | NPO PM (bus) Alcatel Space (payload) |
| Launch mass | 2,600 kg (5,700 lb) |
| Power | 2540 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 27 October 1999, 16:16:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Proton-K / DM-2 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Contractor | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered service | Failed to orbit |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit (planned) [1] |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 11° West |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 17 transponders: 12 C-band 5 Ku-band |
| Coverage area | Russia |
Satellite description
It was constructed by NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki (ISS Reshetnev) and Alcatel Space and is based on the MSS-2500-GSO satellite bus. It is equipped with seventeen transponders.
Launch
The satellite was launched at Baikonur Cosmodrome at Site 200/39 on 27 October 1999, at 16:16:00 UTC. The launch was made by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and a Proton-K / DM-2 launch vehicle was used.[1] It is part of the Ekspress satellite constellation.
The Russian Ekspress-A1 communications satellite was launched in October 1999 but the Proton-K launch vehicle failed early in flight, during second stage burn. This is the second failure of the 8K82K Proton-K in 1999.[2]
References
- "Ekspress-A1, -A2, -A3". Gunter's Space Page. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- "Issue 410". Jonathan's Space Report. 28 October 1999. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
