A paired launch of the two Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) satellites Express-AMU3 and Express-AMU7 has taken place from the Baikonur cosmodrome.
They will be located at 103 degrees East and 145 degrees East respectively and provide stationary and mobile communication services, digital TV and radio broadcasting, data transmission, as well as high-speed Internet access. Their commissioning is expected in March 2022 and the operational lifetime of the satellites is 15 years.
Commenting on the development, Alexey Volin, general director of RSCC, said: “Today, RSCC has the largest geostationary communication and broadcasting constellation in Russia, providing global coverage. And we continue to increase it: now the constellation was replenished with two modern and reliable satellites. Their advantageous coverage, which includes the eastern part of Russia and the CIS countries, makes it possible to improve the quality of TV broadcasting, satellite internet, maritime and other services”.
The Express-AMU3 multibeam satellite is developed to transmit data and provide internet access using small user stations. Meanwhile, Express-AMU7 will increase the reliability of federal TV broadcasting in four zones of the eastern part of Russia, as well as provide additional communication channels in the Far East. Both satellites will be used to develop maritime services in this region and along the Northern Sea Route.
Both satellites were created by the leading Russian rocket and space enterprise: ISS – Reshetnev Company. The payload equipment was projected and manufactured by Thales Alenia Space.
