Mission type Communications COSPAR ID 2010-058A Rocket Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat-M Inclination 62.83° Period 12 hours Launch site Plesetsk Cosmodrome | Operator VKS SATCAT no. 37212 Reference system Geocentric Inclination 62.83° Launch date 2 November 2010 | |
Manufacturer Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev Similar Kosmos 2469, Alsat‑2A, Kosmos 2459, Progress M‑07M, Progress M‑08M | ||
Meridian 3 (Russian: Меридиан-3), also known as Meridian No.13L, was a Russian communications satellite. It was the third satellite to be launched as part of the Meridian system, which will replace the older Molniya series.
Meridian 3 was launched by a Soyuz-2 rocket. The Soyuz-2.1a configuration was used, along with a Fregat-M upper stage. The launch occurred from Site 43/4 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 00:58:39 GMT on 2 November 2010.
It was constructed by ISS Reshetnev and is believed to be based on the Uragan-M satellite bus, which has also been used for GLONASS navigation satellites. It operates in a Molniya orbit with a perigee of 900 kilometres (560 mi), an apogee of 39,000 kilometres (24,000 mi), and 65° inclination.
References
Meridian 3 Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA