The USP, for Universal Space Platform (; ), also known as Viktoria (), is a highly flexible satellite bus designed and manufactured by RSC Energia. It is called universal because it has been designed to be operated from LEO to GEO. It is a three axis stabilized platform with electric propulsion for station keeping, but chemical propellant is offered as an option. The bus can offer up to 3000 W of power and a payload capacity up to for Low Earth orbit or HEO an up to for geostationary orbit.
The platform is designed for direct orbital injection, and thus lacks orbit raising propulsion. It does however, support dual launching on Proton-M, which can enable cheap launching, or the use of smaller vehicles like the Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M or even the Dnepr for low energy orbits.
List of USP bus satellites While not the most successful satellite bus, the USP is characterized by its commercial beginnings and the huge orbital flexibility.
Satellite Order Launch Launch Vehicle Launch site Intended Orbit Launch Result Launch Weight Status Remarks Yamal 101 1999-09-06 Proton-K/Blok-DM-2M Baikonur Site 81/23 GEO Dual launch with Yamal 102. Failed at launch Yamal 102 1999-09-06 Proton-K/Blok-DM-2M Baikonur Site 81/23 GEO Retired on August 9, 2010 Dual launch with Yamal 101. Yamal 201 2001 2003-11-24 Proton-K/Blok-DM-2M Baikonur Site 81/23 GEO Dual launch with Yamal 202. Failed on orbit Yamal 202 2001 2003-11-24 Proton-K/Blok-DM-2M Baikonur Site 81/23 GEO Dual launch with Yamal 201 BelKa 1 2003 2006-07-26 Dnepr Baikonur Site 109/95 SSO Tundra L11 2007 2015-11-17 Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M Plesetsk Site 43/4 HEO Tundra L12 2007 2017-05-25 Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M Plesetsk Site 43/4 HEO Angosat 1 2009 2017-12-26 Zenit-3F/Fregat-SB Baikonur Site 45/1 GEO The ground controllers lose contact with the satellite shortly after launch, but later regained after the satellite was properly aligned with sun and confirmed that its onboard systems are in good health. Tundra L13 2007 Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M Plesetsk Site 43/4 HEO Energia-100 Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M Vostochny Site 1SGEO Tundra L14 2007 Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M Plesetsk Site 43/4 HEO Tundra L15 2007 Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M Plesetsk Site 43/4 HEO Yamal 203 2001 Proton-K/Blok-DM-2M Baikonur GEO Yamal 204 2001 Proton-K/Blok-DM-2M Baikonur GEO Yamal 301 2003 Proton-M/Blok DM-03 Baikonur GEO Yamal 302 2003 Proton-M/Blok DM-03 Baikonur GEO
See also RSC Energia – The USP bus designer and manufacturer. Gazprom Space Systems – Satellite communication division of the Russian oil giant Gazprom. Yamal – Communication satellite family operated by Gazprom Space Systems. EKS early warning system – A Russian early warning satellite system designed by RSC Energia that is based on the USP bus.
External links RSC Energia USP page
References