Ekspress
A series of Russian communications satellites in geostationary orbit. Seven
Ekspress-AM satellites have been launched, designated AM-1, -2, -3, -11,
-22, -33, and -44. The spacecraft were built by Russian RSCC (Kosmicheskiya
Svyaz) and carry communication payloads all built by Alcatel except for
AM-1 (NEC). On Mar. 28, 2006, Ekspress AM-11 was hit by either a micrometeorite
or a piece of space debris, which caused instantaneous depressurization
of the thermal control system fluid circuit, followed by a sudden outburst
of the heat-carrying agent. This led to a loss of spacecraft orientation
and rotation. After regaining control, the satellite was put into a graveyard
orbit above GEO. Ekspress was designed to gradually replace the Gorizont
series.
Related category
• SATELLITES
AND SPACE PROBES
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