Russian Express-AM2 Satellite Set for Launch on March 30, 2005

MOSCOW, March 29, 2005/Satnews Daily/ ¾ The launch of new Russian Express-AM2 communications satellite is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, March 30, 2005, the Russian Satellite Communications Co. (RSCC) said.

The satellite will be orbited from cosmodrome Baikonur by Proton-K launch-vehicle with the DM accelerating propulsion system at 1.31 a.m. Moscow time (29/03/2005 22.31 GMT).

Upon completing in-orbit tests and the system performing check Express-AM2 will be put into operation on GEO at 80 E as a part of RSCC in-orbit constellation, RSCC said.

Express-AM2 is the fourth out of five new-generation Express-AM satellites to be produced and launched by the end of 2005 in the context of Russian Federal Space Program. The first three Express-AM satellites, i.e. Express-AM22 (53 E), Express-AM11 (96.5 E), and Express-AM1 (40 E) are being successfully operated on geostationary orbit. The fifth Express-AM satellite, Express-AM3 (140 E), is planned to be launched in the second quarter of 2005.

The Express-AM2 satellite was developed by Russian NPO PM in cooperation with French company Alcatel Space. The spacecraft carries 16 C-band transponders (40 and 72 MHz bandwidth), 12 Ku-band transponders (54 MHz bandwidth) and 1 L-band transponder (0.5 MHz bandwidth) with improved performance characteristics.

According to RSCC, this is the first spacecraft of Express-AM series with enlarged traffic carrying capacity of four C-band transponders (72 MHz). Its in-orbit operational life time is 12 years, station keeping accuracy is +/-0.05 degrees north-south/west-east that allows to use cheap antenna sets without automatic tracking devices. Express-AM2 provides coverage across Russia, the western and eastern parts of China, Korea, Northern India, Bangladesh, Butan, Nepal, northern part of Indochina.

The new satellite is designed to carry out state missions (mobile presidential and governmental communications, federal broadcasting, deployment of special satellite communications networks) and to provide a multi service communications package (digital broadcasting/ distribution, telephony, videoconferencing, data, broadband Internet access). In addition, the new satellite will be used for VSAT networks, departmental and corporate networks, and to provide multimedia services (distance learning, telemedicine etc.).