Ekspress-AM2 explained

Ekspress-AM2
Names List:Экспресс-АМ2
Ekspress-AM2
Express-AM2
Mission Type:Communications
Operator:Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC)
Cospar Id:2005-010A
Satcat:28629
Mission Duration:12 years (planned)
11 years (achieved)
Spacecraft:Ekspress-AM2
Spacecraft Type:KAUR
Spacecraft Bus:MSS-2500-GSO
Manufacturer:NPO PM (bus)
Alcatel Space (payload)
Power:6 kW
Launch Date:29 March 2005, 21:31:00 UTC
Launch Rocket:Proton-K / DM-2M
Launch Site:Baikonur, Site 200/39
Launch Contractor:Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Entered Service:May 2005
Disposal Type:Graveyard orbit
Deactivated:2016
Orbit Reference:Geocentric orbit[1]
Orbit Regime:Geostationary orbit
Orbit Longitude:80° East (2005–2016)
Apsis:gee
Trans Band:29 transponders:
16 C-band
12 Ku-band
1 L-band
Trans Coverage:Russia, CIS
Programme:Ekspress constellation
Previous Mission:Ekspress-AM1
Next Mission:Ekspress-AM3

Ekspress-AM2 (Russian: Экспресс-АМ2, meaning Express-AM2) 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).[2]

Satellite description

The satellite has a total of 29 transponders, was 16 C-band, 12 Ku-band and 1 L-band transponders. The Ekspress-AM2 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.[3]

Launch

Ekspress-AM2 was launched by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, using a Proton-K / DM-2M launch vehicle. The launch took place at 21:31:00 UTC on 29 March 2005, from Site 200/39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.[4] Successfully deployed into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), Ekspress-AM2 raised itself into an operational geostationary orbit using its apogee motor.

Mission

Ekspress-AM2 was retired in 2016 and was moved into a graveyard orbit above the geostationary belt.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EXPRESS-AM2. N2YO.com. 23 April 2021.
  2. Web site: Satellite Ekspress-AM2. SatBeams. 23 April 2021.
  3. Web site: Report # 546. Jonathan's Space Report . 14 April 2005. 23 April 2021.
  4. Web site: Launch Log. Jonathan's Space Report. 14 March 2021. 23 April 2021.
  5. Web site: Ekspress-AM2, -AM3. Gunter's Space Page. 11 December 2017. 23 April 2021.