| Ekspress-A3 | |
| Names List: | Экспрeсс-А3 Express-A3 Ekspress-A No.3 Ekspress-3A |
| Mission Type: | Communication |
| Operator: | Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) / Eutelsat Communications |
| Cospar Id: | 2000-031A |
| Satcat: | 26378 |
| Mission Duration: | 7 years (planned) 9 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft: | Ekspress-A3 |
| Spacecraft Type: | KAUR |
| Spacecraft Bus: | MSS-2500-GSO |
| Manufacturer: | NPO PM (bus) Alcatel Space (payload) |
| Power: | 2540 watts |
| Launch Date: | 24 June 2000, 00:28:00 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Proton-K / DM-2M |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Launch Contractor: | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered Service: | August 2000 |
| Disposal Type: | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated: | September 2009 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 11° West (2000–2009) |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 17 transponders: 12 C-band 5 Ku-band |
| Trans Coverage: | Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Russia |
| Insignia Size: | 200px |
| Programme: | Ekspress constellation |
| Previous Mission: | Ekspress-A2 |
| Next Mission: | Ekspress-A1R |
Ekspress-A3 (Russian: Экспрeсс-А3 meaning Express-A3), also designated Ekspress-3A, is a Russian communications satellite which is operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) and EUTELSAT.[1]
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.[2]
The satellite was launched at Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 on 24 June 2000, at 00:28:00 UTC. The launch was made by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and a Proton-K / DM-2M launch vehicle was used.[3]
It is part of the Ekspress satellite constellation. Following its launch and on-orbit testing, it was placed in geostationary orbit at 11° West, from where it provides communications services to Russia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.[4]