Two satellites to add to Yamal telecom cluster before 2015 - general designer
MOSCOW. Jan 10 (Interfax-AVN) - Gazprom Space Systems may launch Yamal-401 and Yamal-601 telecom satellites before the end of 2015, Gazprom Space Systems General Designer Nikolai Sevastyanov told Interfax-AVN.
"The program for developing the Yamal satellite cluster through 2015 stipulates the launch of two telecom satellites, Yamal-401 in 2013 and Yamal-601 in 2015," Sevastyanov said.
He recalled the adding of Yamal-300K (on November 3) and Yamal-402 (on December 8) to the orbiting cluster in 2012.
Yamal-401 and Yamal-601 will replace Yamal-201 and Yamal-202, the 12-year service life of which will expire in 2015, Sevastyanov said.
"If Yamal-201 and Yamal-202 keep on working, we will not abandon them but their useful life will expire in 2015," he said.
Gazprom Space Systems is implementing the satellite telecom program on principles of self sufficiency and project financing. Bank loans for Yamal-201 and Yamal-202 satellites have paid off.
Gazprom Space Systems has four satellites in orbit: Yamal-201 and Yamal-202 launched in 2003 and Yamal-300K and Yamal-402 launched in 2012. The company leased Astra 1F satellite from SES Global in 2011.
