Mission type Communication Mission duration 7 years
(Extended) Contractor Khrunichev Launch mass 2,500 kg Launch site Baikonur Cosmodrome | COSPAR ID 2000-031A Rocket Proton-K/DM-2M Launch mass 2,500 kg Launch date 24 June 2000 Bus KAUR | |
Operator Kosmicheskiya Svyaz
Eutelsat Manufacturers Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev, Thales Alenia Space Similar Eutelsat 4A, Intelsat 603, Intelsat 1R, Eutelsat 33B, Eutelsat 31A | ||
Ekspress A3 (Russian: Экспре́сс А3 meaning Express A3), also designated Ekspress 3A, is a Russian communications satellite which is operated by Kosmicheskiya Svyaz and Eutelsat. It was constructed by NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki and Alcatel Space and is based on the MSS-2500-GSO satellite bus. The satellite was launched at Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200 on 24 June 2000, 00:28 UTC. The launch was made by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and a Proton-K/DM-2M carrier rocket was used.
It is part of the Ekspress satellite network.
Following its launch and on-orbit testing, it was placed in geosynchronous orbit at 11° West, from where it provides communications services to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It is equipped with seventeen transponders.