| Ekspress-AM7 | |
| Names List: | Экспресс-АМ7 Express-AM7 |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | RSCC |
| Cospar Id: | 2015-012A |
| Satcat: | 40505 |
| Mission Duration: | 15 years (planned) (in progress) |
| Spacecraft: | Ekspress-AM7 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Ekspress |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Eurostar-3000 |
| Manufacturer: | EADS Astrium |
| Launch Mass: | [1] |
| Power: | 18 kW |
| Launch Date: | 18 March 2015, 22:05:00 UTC[2] |
| Launch Rocket: | Proton-M / Briz-M |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Launch Contractor: | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered Service: | April 2015 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit[3] |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 40° East (2015–present) |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 62 transponders: 24 C-band 36 Ku-band 2 L-band |
| Trans Coverage: | Russia, CIS |
| Insignia Size: | 200px |
| Programme: | Ekspress constellation |
| Previous Mission: | Ekspress-AM6 |
| Next Mission: | Ekspress-AM8 |
Ekspress-AM7 (Russian: Экспресс-АМ7 meaning Express-AM7) is a Russian communications satellite operated by the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC).
EADS Astrium, was contracted in March 2012, which had become part of Airbus Defence and Space by the time of the satellite's launch, constructed Ekspress-AM7, which was based on the Eurostar-3000 satellite bus.[4] The satellite has a mass of, provides 18 kilowatts to its payload, and a planned operational lifespan of 15 years. The satellite carried 62 transponders: 24 operating in the C-band of the electromagnetic spectrum, 36 in the Ku-band and 2 in the L-band.[1] It is a replacemt for Ekspress-AM1.[5]
Khrunichev was contracted to launch Ekspress-AM7, using a Proton-M / Briz-M launch vehicle - the same configuration that had failed to deploy the similar Ekspress-AM4 and Ekspress-AM4R. The launch took place from Site 200/39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, at 22:05:00 UTC on 18 March 2015. The satellite was deployed into the planned geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).[6]