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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