Meridian 6

Spacecraft nr:

Russian spacecraft nr:

Launch data: Designation  38995 / 12063A Launch date  14 Nov 2012 - 11:42 UT Launch site  Plesetsk, LC-43/4 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-2-1a / Fregat Mission  Military Communication Elliptical Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  1006 x 39362 km Eccentricity  7,22E-01 Inclination  62.73 deg Period  718.04 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• The Meridian satellites link Russian ground forces, aircraft, ships and command centers in the Arctic, Siberia and the North Sea.
• Military communications - designed to replace Molniya and Parus spacecraft; this is the sixth of the series.

Mission details:

• The 6th Meridian military communications satellite for the Russian Defense Ministry was successfully placed in a 974 x 39740 km x 62.8 deg elliptical orbit on Nov 14, 2012. The previous Meridian flight failed to reach orbit.