Ekspress AM-5 Credit: Manufacturer Image |
Status: Operational 2013. First Launch: 2013-12-26. Last Launch: 2014-10-21. Number: 2 .
AM-5 used a Reshetnev Ekspress-2000 bus with C, Ku, Ka and L-band communications payloads developed in collaboration with the Canadian company MDA. The Briz-M made four burns to deliver Ekspress AM-5 to a sub-geostationary orbit of around 33,800 x 37,800 km x 0.18 deg. It used its on-board electric propulsion system (ion drive) to complete the trek to GEO.
Ekspress-AM 5 Communication satellite built by ISS Reshetnev (ex NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki, NPO PM) (Bus), MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) (Payload) for RSCC (Kosmicheskiya Svyaz), Russia. Launched 2013. Used the Ekspress-2000. Launched 2013. |
Ekspress-AM 6 (Eutelsat 53A) Null |
Yamal 401-2 Communication satellite built by ISS Reshetnev (prime); Thales Alenia Space (payload) for Gazprom Space Systems, Russia. Launched 2014. Used the Ekspress-2000A bus. |
Blagovest 1, 2, 3, 4 (14F149) Null |
Yamal 601-2 Communication satellite built by ISS Reshetnev (prime); Thales Alenia Space (payload) for Gazprom Space Systems. Used the Ekspress-2000 bus. |
Yenisey A1 (Luch 4) Null |
Ekspress AM-6 Credit: Manufacturer Image |
AM-5 used a Reshetnev Ekspress-2000 bus with C, Ku, Ka and L-band communications payloads developed in collaboration with the Canadian company MDA. The Briz-M made four burns to deliver Ekspress AM-5 to a sub-geostationary orbit of around 33,800 x 37,800 km x 0.18 deg. It used its on-board electric propulsion system (ion drive) to complete the trek to GEO.
The final Briz-M burn was incomplete, leaving the communications satellite in an orbit with a 1373 min period - significantly below the planned orbit. Ekspress AM-6 had to reach its geosynchronous destination using extra xenon propellant from its own electric propulsion system at the cost of operational lifetime. Ekspress AM-6 orbit is 1373.2 min, 31307 x 37784 km x 0.7 deg; the Briz-M's auxiliary SOZ thrusters disposed of the stage into a 1512.4 min, 34984 x 39549 km x 1.0 deg orbit. Stationed in geosynchronous orbit at 140 deg east.
See Kosmos 2533 (Blagovest 13L). Blagovest military communications satellite. Some reports suggested a problem with the final Briz-M burn, but on December 29 it was shown by US tracking in a 35421 x 35802 km x 0.2 deg orbit drifting over 77E.