Express-AM7 telecom satellite to be moved into geostationary orbit
MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Another satellite has been added to the orbital group of Federal State Unitary Enterprise Satellite Communications, the company press service said.
"Specialists of the manufacturing company, Airbus D&S (France), have taken control of Express-AM7. It will be inserted into a slot of geostationary orbit," says a report seen by Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
It was reported earlier that a Proton-M LV coupled with a Briz-M upper stage had delivered Russia's new telecom satellite Express-AM7 to a transfer orbit. The rocket blasted off from Baikonur at 1.05 a.m. Moscow time on March 19, and the satellite separated from the upper stage at 10:18 a.m.
Express-AM7 will be inserted into a geostationary orbit slot at 40 degrees East and provide communication and broadcast services on the territories of Russia, Europe, Africa and South Asia. Express-AM7 was built with off-budget money on the orders from Satellite Communications under the 2006-2015 federal space program. The project was funded by a Vnesheconombank credit line. The satellite's service life is 15 years.
