Meridian 4

Spacecraft n°:

Russian spacecraft n°:

Launch data: Designation  37398 / 11018A Launch date  04 May 2011 - 17:41 UT Launch site  Plesetsk, LC-43/4 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-2-1A Fregat Mission  Military: Communication Elliptical Molniya Earth orbit on 04 May at .79: Perigee / Apogee  980 x 39738 km Eccentricity  7.24E-01 Inclination  62.79 deg Period  725.16 min

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• Military communications - designed to replace Molniya and Parus spacecraft; this is the fourth of the series.
• The fourth Meridian communications satellite was launched on May 4 into a 978 x 39734 km x 62.8 deg orbit. The Meridian system provides communications for the Russian Defense Ministry, and replaces the older Molniya satellites.