The Ekspress (Russian: Экспресс) is a highly flexible satellite bus designed and manufactured by ISS Reshetnev. It is an unpressurized bus originally designed for GEO, but that has been adapted for medium Earth orbit and to highly elliptical orbit. It has different versions and has been used from civilian communications to satellite navigation.
Platform variations
The Ekspress bus has two main platforms: the 1000 light to medium version and the 2000, for heavy satellites. There was a project for a third platform, the 4000, but it has not yet been used.
Ekspress-1000 Series
The Ekspress-1000 (Russian: Экспресс-1000) in its different variations offers an platform for small to medium satellites. It is a direct to GEO bus for total spacecraft weights from 1200 kg to 2200 kg and having a power production from 3 kW to 8 kW with a life expectancy of 15 years. It is designed for directly stacking up to 3 of the smallest version (Ekspress-1000K) or 2 of the bigger ones.
- Ekspress-1000K (Russian: Экспресс-1000K): The smallest platform. It is designed for spacecraft up to 1200 kg, with space for 250 kg of payload and up to 3 kW of power generation and 1.8 kW of heat dissipation. It can be stacked up to three Ekspress-1000K.
- Ekspress-1000H (Russian: Экспресс-1000Н): The middle platform. It is designed for spacecraft up to 1900 kg, with space for 500 kg of payload and up to 5.6 kW of power generation and 3.5 kW of heat dissipation. It can be dual stacked with Ekspress-1000K or Ekspress-1000H.
- Ekspress-1000SH (Russian: Экспресс-1000SH): The biggest platform. It is designed for spacecraft up to 2200 kg, with space for 700 kg of payload and up to 8 kW of power generation and 5 kW of heat dissipation. It can be dual stacked with an Ekspress-1000K.
List of satellites
The Ekspress bus has seen many successes, both for the commercial market and the military programs. Here is a list of all known orders as of July 2016.
See also
- ISS Reshetnev – The Ekspress bus designer and manufacturer.
- Russian Satellite Communications Company – The main Russian state operator of communications satellites.
- Ekspress Constellation – Communication satellite family operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company.
- Luch satellite constellation – A Russian relay satellites constellation that enable constant communications with the ISS and Soyuz-MS.
- GLONASS-K – Third generation of the GLONASS navigation satellite that is based on the Ekspress-1000 bus.
- GLONASS-K2 – Evolution of the GLONASS-K based on the Ekspress-1000A bus.
External links
References
- Gunter Dirk Krebs. AOneSat 1 Gunter's Space Page, April 17, 2016, retrieved 2016-07-21^
- Gunter Dirk Krebs. Ekspress-AM 6 (Eutelsat 53A) Gunter's Space Page, April 17, 2016, retrieved 2016-07-21^
- Gunter Dirk Krebs. Ekspress 80 Gunter's Space Page, April 17, 2016, retrieved 2016-07-21