Meridian 4 Explained

Meridian 4
Mission Type:Communications
Operator:VKS (2011)
VKO (2012-)
Cospar Id:2011-018A
Satcat:37398
Spacecraft Type:Meridian
Manufacturer:ISS Reshetnev
Launch Date: UTC[1]
Launch Rocket:Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat
Launch Site:Plesetsk 43/4
Orbit Epoch:3 July 2014, 23:30:26 UTC[2]
Orbit Reference:Geocentric
Orbit Regime:Molniya
Orbit Periapsis:1418km (881miles)
Orbit Apoapsis:38948km (24,201miles)
Orbit Inclination:64.39 degrees
Orbit Period:717.75 minutes
Apsis:gee

Meridian 4 (Russian: Меридиан-4), also known as Meridian No.14L, is a Russian military communications satellite. It was launched atop a Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in May 2011.

It is the fourth satellite to be launched as part of the Meridian system to replace the older Molniya series. It was constructed by ISS Reshetnev and is believed to be based on the Uragan-M satellite bus, which has also been used for GLONASS navigation satellites.

Meridian satellites are launched into highly elliptical Molniya orbits to provide communications coverage of the Northern Hemisphere for the Russian military.

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Launch Log. Jonathan. McDowell. Jonathan's Space Page. 5 July 2014.
  2. Web site: MERIDIAN 4 Satellite details 2011-018A NORAD 37398. N2YO. 3 July 2014. 5 July 2014.