Ekspress-A2
NamesЭкспресс-A2
Express-A2
Ekspress-6A No 2
Ekspress-A No. 2
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorRussian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC)
COSPAR ID2000-013A
SATCAT no.26098
Websiteeng.rscc.ru
Mission duration7 years (planned)
15 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftEkspress-A2
Spacecraft typeKAUR
BusMSS-2500-GSO
ManufacturerNPO PM (bus)
Alcatel Space (payload)
Launch mass2,600 kg (5,700 lb)
Power2540 watts
Start of mission
Launch date12 March 2000, 04:07:00 UTC
RocketProton-K / Blok DM-2M
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 200/39
ContractorKhrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Entered serviceMay 2000
End of mission
DisposalGraveyard orbit
DeactivatedOctober 2015
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude80° East (2000–2005)
103° East (2005–2014)
145° East (2014–2015)
Transponders
Band17 transponders:
12 C-band
5 Ku-band
Coverage areaRussia
 

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.

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

  1. ↑ Krebs, Gunter (19 May 2020). "Ekspress-A1, -A2, -A3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Issue 422". Jonathan's Space Report. 28 March 2000. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Express 2A". Geostationary Satellites. Satellite News Digest. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Express A2". LyngSat. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2021.


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