Russia’s Proton-M rocket has successfully blasted-off with the Express-AM6 telecommunications satellite from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The satellite separated from the Breeze-M upper stage, which will deploy the spacecraft to the intended orbit at 53° E longitude in the first quarter of 2015 following flight tests and evaluation of on-board systems.
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Built by Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems, the Express-AM6 is based on the company’s Express-2000 platform and will be operated by civilian telecom satellite operator Russian Satellite Communications (RSCC).
RSCC general director Yuri Prokhorov said: "With the new satellite in action, the overarching task of broadcasting nationwide television programmes from Kaliningrad to Irkutsk will be addressed.
"The Express-AM6 has been built under the federal target programme ‘Development of TV and Radio Broadcasting in Russia in 2009-15’."
With a mass of around 3,400kg, the satellite is designed to provide 12.1kW of payload power, and will operate for around 15 years. Its payload comprises 72 C, Ku, Ka and L band transponders and 11 antennas in four frequency bands.
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By GlobalDataThe Express-AM6 will provide communications and broadcasting services in Central Europe and the Middle East. It will offer high-speed internet access, digital television and radio broadcasting, video conferencing, as well as fixed and mobile telecommunications solutions.
The satellite will also help set up VSAT communication networks in European Russia, the Urals and Western Siberia.
The Express-AM5 is the first satellite developed under the Federal Target Program, and has been operating since April 2014.
RSCC plans to launch another two spacecraft, Express-AM7 and AM8, in early 2015.
Image: The Express-AM6. Photo: courtesy of Roscosmos / Russian Satellite Communications Company.
