Ekspress-A2
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.
| Names | 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 no. | 26098 |
| Website | eng |
| Mission duration | 7 years (planned) 15 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Ekspress-A2 |
| Spacecraft type | KAUR |
| Bus | MSS-2500-GSO |
| Manufacturer | NPO PM (bus) Alcatel Space (payload) |
| Launch mass | 2,600 kg (5,700 lb) |
| Power | 2540 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 12 March 2000, 04:07:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Proton-K / Blok DM-2M |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Contractor | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered service | May 2000 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated | October 2015 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 80° East (2000–2005) 103° East (2005–2014) 145° East (2014–2015) |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 17 transponders: 12 C-band 5 Ku-band |
| Coverage area | Russia |
Satellite
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]
Launch
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 2,600 kg (5,700 lb) 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]
Mission
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.
References
- Krebs, Gunter (19 May 2020). "Ekspress-A1, -A2, -A3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- "Issue 422". Jonathan's Space Report. 28 March 2000. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- "Express 2A". Geostationary Satellites. Satellite News Digest. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- "Express A2". LyngSat. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
