Rapid TV News

Russia wants 15 new satellites

Chris Forrester ©RapidTVNews | 10-11-2008

According to a report from BBC Monitoring, Russia’s Space Communications enterprise (GPKS) is looking to build and launch 15 new satellites this side of 2015.

The director-general of GPKS, Akelsey Ostapchuk, said: "Space Communications is implementing the programme for the renewal of the state space communications and broadcasting satellite network for 2006-2015. Under this programme, the plan is to put into orbit 15 spacecraft of different series." Mr Ostapchuk was speaking at the recent 13th annual conference of operators and users of RF's space communications and broadcasting network held in Dubna, near Moscow.

Ostapchuk recalled that the Express-AM33 satellite (pictured, above), designed and built by the Information Satellite Systems (Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory), was launched in early 2008. He added that there were plans to put into orbit two more space communications satellites in early 2009, Express-AM44 and Express-MD1.

"Work is under way to build an entirely new satellite - the first Russian heavy spacecraft Express-AM4," Mr Ostapchuk added, saying the new spacecraft was being built in cooperation with the Khrunichev space centre using the European space platform Eurostar-3000, manufactured by EADS, as the basis [of the satellite]. The craft will have a power of at least 14 KW. It will be fitted with 63 transponders. The satellite's active lifespan will be at least 15 years.

"The satellite is to be put into service in 2011, in a key, for Russia, position of 80 degrees east longitude," Mr Ostapchuk said.

© Rapid TV News 2008