| Ekspress-AM44 | |
| Names List: | Экспресс-АМ44 Ekspress-AM44 Express-AM44 |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) |
| Cospar Id: | 2009-007A |
| Satcat: | 33595 |
| Mission Duration: | 10 years (planned) (in progress) |
| Spacecraft: | Ekspress-AM44 |
| Spacecraft Type: | KAUR |
| Spacecraft Bus: | MSS-2500-GSO |
| Manufacturer: | NPO PM (bus) Thales Alenia Space (payload) |
| Power: | 4410 watts |
| Launch Date: | 11 February 2009, 00:03:00 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Proton-M / Briz-M |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Launch Contractor: | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered Service: | April 2009 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit[1] |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 11° West (2009–present) |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 17 transponders: 10 C-band 6 Ku-band 1 L-band |
| Trans Coverage: | Russia |
| Programme: | Ekspress constellation |
| Previous Mission: | Ekspress-AM33 |
| Next Mission: | Ekspress-MD1 |
Ekspress-AM44 (ru|Экспресс-АМ44, meaning Express-AM44) 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, presidential and governmental mobile communications) and to deploy satellite networks by applying Very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) technology to Russia.[2]
The satellite has a total of 17 transponders, was 10 C-band, 6 Ku-band and 1 L-band transponders. The Ekspress-AM44 Russian domestic communications satellite, built by Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev (NPO PM) for Kosmicheskaya Svyaz. The communications payload was built by the French company Thales Alenia Space.[3]
Ekspress-AM44 was launched by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, using a Proton-M / Briz-M launch vehicle. The launch took place at 00:03:00 UTC on 11 February 2009, from Site 200/39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.[4] Successfully deployed into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), Ekspress-AM44 raised itself into an operational geostationary orbit using its apogee motor.
Express-AM44 was launched into orbit on 11 February 2009. The commercial operation of the satellite started in April 2009.[5] The Ekspress-103 satellite entered in service at orbital position 11° West on 25 March 2021, where it replaced Ekspress-AM44.[6]