Ekspress-AM 44

Launch data: Designation  33595 / 09007A Launch date  11 Feb 2009 - 00:03 UT Launch site  B, LC-200/39 Launch vehicle  Proton-M / Briz-M Mission  Commercial: Communications Geostationary orbit on Mar 11.63: Perigee / Apogee  35780 x 35795 km Eccentricity  9.44E-05 Inclination  0.19 deg Period  1436.14 min

Mission details:

• Ekspress-AM 44 is a telecommunications satellite, operated by RSCC (Kosmicheskiya Svyaz) and manufactured by ISS Reshetnev (ex NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki, NPO PM) using their MSS-2500-GSO platform, with the communications payload being supplied by Thales Alenia Space. Satellite body is cylindrical plus antennae and two vanes of six-segment solar panels.
• The satellite has 1 L-band, 10 C-band and 16 Ku-band tranponders. Both communications payloads were supplied by the European company Thales Alenia Space.
• The Ekspress satellites were launched by a Proton-M with a Briz-M upper stage, using an unusual low (48 degree) inclination ascent trajectory to maximize payload capacity.