Ekspress (Russian: , literally Express) is a communication and broadcasting system developed and operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). It is the largest network of Russia and its slots cover an arc in geostationary orbit from 14.0° West to 145.0° East. This allows it to cover the whole territory of Russia, the CIS, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, North and South America, and Australia.
The only other Russian civilian satellite operator is Gazprom Space Systems with its Yamal constellation.
Ekspress satellite series While the Ekspress constellation started with a single model, during the years it has used many suppliers and many models.
Satellite Bus Payload Order Launch Launch Vehicle Intended Orbit Launch Result Launch Weight Status Remarks Ekspress-1Ekspress-2 (No.11L) MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) 13 October 1994 Proton-K / Blok DM-2M Ekspress-2Ekspress-6 (No.12L) MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) 26 September 1996 Proton-K / Blok DM-2M Ekspress-A1Ekspress-6A (No.1) MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) Alcatel Space 27 October 1999 Proton-K / Blok DM-2 Ekspress-A2Ekspress-6A (No.2) MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) Alcatel Space 12 March 2000 Proton-K / Blok DM-2M Ekspress-A3Ekspress-3A (No.3) MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) Alcatel Space 2000-06-23 Proton-K / Blok DM-2 Ekspress-A4Ekspress-A1R (No.4) MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) Alcatel Space 2002-06-10 Proton-K / Blok DM-2M Ekspress-AM22SESAT-2 MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) Alcatel Space 2003-12-28 Proton-K / Blok DM-2M Ekspress-AM11 MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) Alcatel Space 2004-04-26 Proton-K / Blok DM-2M Debris punctured the pressure vessel on 28 March 2006, put on a graveyard orbit. Ekspress-AM1 MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) NEC and Toshiba 29 October 2004 Proton-K / Blok DM-2M Ekspress-AM2 MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) Alcatel Space 29 March 2005 Proton-K / Blok DM-2M Ekspress-AM3 MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) Alcatel Space 2005-06-24 Proton-K / Blok DM-2 Ekspress-AM33 MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) Alcatel Space 2008-01-28 Proton-M / Briz-M Ekspress-AM44 MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) Alcatel Space 2009-02-11 Proton-M / Briz-M GTO Launched with Ekspress MD1. Ekspress-MD1 Yakhta Thales Alenia Space 2009-02-11 Proton-M / Briz-M GTO Launched with Ekspress AM44. Satellite experienced technical failure on 4 July 2013. Ekspress-AM4 Eurostar-3000 2011-08-17 Proton-M / Briz-M GTO Stranded in useless orbit. Deorbited in March 2012. Ekspress-MD2 Yakhta Thales Alenia Space 2012-08-06 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Launched with Telkom 3. Stranded in useless orbit. Ekspress-AM5 Ekspress-2000 MDA 2013-12-26 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Ekspress-AT1 Ekspress-1000H Thales Alenia Space 2014-03-15 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Launched with Ekspress-AT2. Lost in orbit March 2026. Ekspress-AT2 Ekspress-1000K Thales Alenia Space 2014-03-15 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Launched with Ekspress-AT1. Ekspress-AM4R Eurostar-3000 2014-05-15 Proton-M / Briz-M GTO Ekspress-AM6 Ekspress-2000 MDA 2014-10-21 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Left in lower than intended orbit. Company claimed success. Ekspress-AM7 Eurostar-3000 2015-03-18 Proton-M / Briz-M GTO Ekspress-AM8 Ekspress-1000H Thales Alenia Space 2015-09-14 Proton-M / Blok DM-03 GEO Ekspress-AMU1 Eurostar-3000 Airbus Defence and Space 2015-12-24 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Ekspress-103 Ekspress-1000H Thales Alenia Space 2016 30 July 2020 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Ekspress-80 Ekspress-1000H Thales Alenia Space 2016 30 July 2020 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Ekspress-AMU3 Ekspress-1000N Thales Alenia Space 13 December 2021 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Launched with Ekspress-AMU7. Will replace Ekspress-AM33. Ekspress-AMU7 Ekspress-1000N Thales Alenia Space 13 December 2021 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Launched with Ekspress-AMU3. Will replace Ekspress-A4. Ekspress-RV1 Ekspress HEO Launching into a highly elliptical orbit to cover the Far North region. Ekspress-RV2 Ekspress HEO Launching into a highly elliptical orbit to cover the Far North region. Ekspress-RV3 Ekspress HEO Launching into a highly elliptical orbit to cover the Far North region. Ekspress-RV4 Ekspress HEO Launching into a highly elliptical orbit to cover the Far North region. Ekspress-AMU5 Ekspress GEO Will replace Ekspress-AM5. Ekspress-AMU4 Ekspress-1000 Proton-M / Briz-M GEO Will replace Ekspress-AM44. Ekspress-AMU6 Ekspress GEO Will replace Ekspress-AM6. Ekspress-AT3 Ekspress GEO Will replace Ekspress-AT1. Ekspress-AT4 Ekspress GEO Will replace Ekspress-AT2. Ekspress-40 Ekspress GEO Will replace Ekspress-AM7. Ekspress-36 Ekspress GEO Will replace Ekspress-AMU1. Ekspress-AMU8 Ekspress GEO Will replace Ekspress-AM8.
See also
Telecommunications in Russia Russian Satellite Communications Company – Satellite communication company of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation and owner of the Ekspress satellite series. Gazprom Space Systems – Satellite communication division of the Russian oil giant Gazprom and owner of the Yamal system and the only other Russian satellite operator. Yamal (satellite constellation) – The only other Russian civilian communications satellite constellation.
References
External links Russian Satellite Communications Company