Ekspress AM4R
Ekspress AM4R (Russian: Экспресс-АМ4Р meaning Express AM4R)[3] was a Russian communications satellite intended for operation by the State Company for Satellite Communications. Constructed as a replacement for Ekspress AM4, which was left unusable after the upper stage of the rocket carrying it malfunctioned, Ekspress AM4R was also lost due to a launch failure.[4]
| Mission type | Communications |
|---|---|
| Operator | RSCC |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned) Failed to orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Eurostar 3000 |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space |
| Launch mass | 5,775 kilograms (12,732 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 15 May 2014, 21:42 UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Proton-M/Briz-M |
| Launch site | Baikonur 200/39 |
| Contractor | Khrunichev |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geosynchronous planned Failed to orbit |
| Longitude | 80° East |
| Inclination | 0 degrees |
| Period | 24 hours |
| Epoch | Planned |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 30 C band 28 Ku band 2 Ka band 3 L band |
Astrium, which had become part of Airbus Defence and Space by the time of the satellite's launch, constructed Ekspress AM4R, which was based on the Eurostar 3000 satellite bus.[5] It was identical in design to Ekspress AM4, with a mass of 5,775 kilograms (12,732 lb) and a planned operational lifespan of fifteen years. The satellite carried sixty-three transponders: thirty operating in the C band of the electromagnetic spectrum, twenty eight in the Ku band, two in the Ka band and three in the L band. It was to have been the largest and most powerful satellite in the Ekspress constellation.[1]
Khrunichev was contracted to launch Ekspress AM4R, using a Proton-M/Briz-M rocket - the same configuration that had failed to deploy Ekspress AM4. The launch took place from Site 200/39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, at 21:42 UTC on 15 May 2014. Shortly after launch the rocket was reported to have encountered a problem during third stage flight, and as a result the satellite failed to reach orbit.[2]
References
- Krebs, Gunter. "Ekspress-AM 4, 4R". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- Graham, William; Bergin, Chris (15 May 2014). "Russian Proton-M suffers failure during Ekspress-AM4R launch". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- "Ракета "Протон-М" для запуска "Экспресс-АМ4Р" доставлена на Байконур". RIA Novosti. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- Zak, Anatoly. "Proton fails again with Ekspress satellite". Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- "Express AM4R and Express AM7". Astrium. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2014.