| Ekspress-A2 | |
| Names List: | Экспресс-A2 Express-A2 Ekspress-6A No 2 Ekspress-A No. 2 |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) |
| Cospar Id: | 2000-013A |
| Satcat: | 26098 |
| Mission Duration: | 7 years (planned) 15 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft: | Ekspress-A2 |
| Spacecraft Type: | KAUR |
| Spacecraft Bus: | MSS-2500-GSO |
| Manufacturer: | NPO PM (bus) Alcatel Space (payload) |
| Power: | 2540 watts |
| Launch Date: | 12 March 2000, 04:07:00 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Launch Contractor: | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered Service: | May 2000 |
| Disposal Type: | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated: | October 2015 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 80° East (2000–2005) 103° East (2005–2014) 145° East (2014–2015) |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 17 transponders: 12 C-band 5 Ku-band |
| Trans Coverage: | Russia |
| Insignia Size: | 200px |
| Programme: | Ekspress constellation |
| Previous Mission: | Ekspress-A1 |
| Next Mission: | Ekspress-A3 |
Ekspress-A2 (Russian: Экспресс-A2 meaning Express-A2), also designated Ekspress-6A No 2 and sometimes erroneously called Ekspress-2A, is a Russian communications satellite which is operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). It was constructed by NPO PM and Alcatel Space and is based on the MSS-2500-GSO satellite bus.
The launch was contracted by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and used a Proton-K / Blok DM-2M launch vehicle flying from Site 200/39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.[1]
Ekspress-2A is a Russian geosynchronous communications spacecraft that was launched on 12 March 2000 from Baikonur by a Proton-K launch vehicle at 04:07:00 UTC. USSPACECOM had tentatively named it Express-6A.[2] The spacecraft carries 12 transponders in C-band and five in Ku-band to provide voice, data, and video communications in Russia from the parked longitude of 80° east, supplementing the existing fleet of seven Gorizont, two Ekspress and an EKRAN-M. Ekspress are scheduled to replace the aging Gorizont fleet.[3]
It is part of the Ekspress network of satellites. Following its launch and on-orbit testing, it was placed in geostationary orbit at 103° East, from where it provides communications services to Russia.[4] It is equipped with seventeen transponders. In October 2015, the satellite was retired and moved to a graveyard orbit above the geostationary orbit.