spacetoday.net: Russian company orders two communications satellite

Posted: Wed, Mar 28, 2012, 5:51 AM ET (0951 GMT)
Express-AM4 illustration

A Russian satellite operator has ordered two communications satellites from Astrium, including one that will replace a satellite deorbited over the weekend. Astrium will build the Express-AM4R and Express-AM7 satellites for Russian Satellite Communications Co. (RSCC), with the satellites planned for launch in 2014. Both satellites are Eurostar E3000 models with a mix of C-, Ku-, and L-band transponders; Express-AM4R will also have 2 Ka-band transponders. Express-AM4R is a replacement for Express-AM4, which was launched last year but stranded in a transfer orbit after its upper stage malfunctioned. Russian officials decided to deorbit the satellite last week, turning down a proposal to repurpose the satellite to provide broadband communications for Antarctica.