Russia orbits most modern communication satellite

On 18 August, at the height of MAKS-2011, the Express AM4 next-generation communications satellite will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. A Proton-M rocket with a Briz-M upper stage will position the satellite in geostationary orbit. The Express AM4 has been designed to operate for 15 years, providing telecommunications services to customers in Russia and CIS countries on behalf of the Russian Satellite Communications Company.

The satellite was developed in an international program by Russia’s famed Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center and Europe’s leading space contractor, EADS Astrium. The contract between the two companies was signed in March 2008.

The Express AM4 is built on the well-proven Eurostar E3000 satellite bus from Astrium, with a payload capacity of 14 kW. This platform is already widely used on other in-orbit satellites including Inmarsat-4F1 and 4F2, Hot Bird 8, Eutelsat W3A and Intelsat 10-02 – all operating for leading international providers of satellite-based communications.
Using 62 transponders functioning in the C, Ka, Ku and L bands, the Express AM4 will follow a geostationary orbit at 80° inclination.

Earlier this year the satellite passed all necessary pre-launch check out tests and on 22 July it was delivered to the Cosmodrome. Industry specialists look forward to its arrival into service when the Express AM4 will be the most modern Russian telecommunications satellite, delivering capabilities that are at the forefront of the market.

Igor Afanasyev, Dmitry Vorontsov