Ekspress (satellite bus)

The Еkspress (Russian: Экспресс) is a highly flexible satellite bus designed and manufactured by ISS Reshetnev.^[1][2] It is an unpressurized bus originally designed for GEO, but that has been adapted for medium Earth orbit and to highly elliptical orbit. It has different versions and has been used from civilian communications to satellite navigation.^[3][4][5][6]

Platform variations

The Ekspress bus has two main platforms: the 1000 light to medium version and the 2000, for heavy birds.^[7] There was a project for a third platform, the 4000, but it has never been used, yet.^[8][3]

Ekspress-1000 Series

The Ekspress-1000 (Russian: Экспресс-1000) in its different variations offers an platform for small to medium satellites. It is a direct to GEO bus for total spacecraft weights from 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) to 2,200 kg (4,900 lb) and having a power production from 3 kW to 8 kW with a life expectancy of 15 years.^[1] It is designed for directly stacking up to 3 of the smallest version (Ekspress-1000K) or 2 of the bigger ones.^[7]

• Еkspress-1000K (Russian: Экспресс-1000K): The smallest platform. It is designed for spacecrafts up to 1,200 kg (2,600 lb), with space for 250 kg (550 lb) of payload and up to 3 kW of power generation and 1.8 kW of heat dissipation. It can be stacked up to three Еkspress-1000K.^[7][9]
• Еkspress-1000H (Russian: Экспресс-1000Н): The middle platform. It is designed for spacecrafts up to 1,900 kg (4,200 lb), with space for 500 kg (1,100 lb) of payload and up to 5.6 kW of power generation and 3.5 kW of heat dissipation. It can be dual stacked with Еkspress-1000K or Еkspress-1000H.^[7][9]
• Еkspress-1000SH (Russian: Экспресс-1000SH): The biggest platform. It is designed for spacecrafts up to 2,200 kg (4,900 lb), with space for 700 kg (1,500 lb) of payload and up to 8 kW of power generation and 5 kW of heat dissipation. It can be dual stacked with a Еkspress-1000K.^[7][9]
• Еkspress-1000HT (Russian: Экспресс-1000НТ): Evolution of the SH platform.^[7]
• Еkspress-1000HTA (Russian: Экспресс-1000НТА): Evolution of the HT platform.^[7]
• Еkspress-1000HTV (Russian: Экспресс 1000НТВ): Evolution of the HTA platform.^[7]

Ekspress-2000 Series

The Ekspress-2000 (Russian: Экспресс-2000) is the fruits of the collaboration with Thales Alenia Space and their Spacebus 4000 experience with the Еkspress-1000H.^[4][9] It is a big platform for spacecraft massing up to 3,500 kg (7,700 lb), with space for 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of payload and up to 14 kW of power generation and 7.5 kW of heat dissipation. It is, as the rest of the family, a direct to GEO bus and given its size it is not designed to be stacked. It has an expected design life of 15 years.^[7][2]

Ekspress-4000 Series

The Ekspress-4000 (Russian: Экспресс-4000) is a collaboration with Thales Alenia Space to mix the best elements of the Ekspress-2000 with the Spacebus 4000.^[9] It would be a direct to GEO platform for spacecrafts massing up to 3,200 kg (7,100 lb) and having a power production of 14 kW with a life expectancy of 15 years. This would enable more than 60 transponders of payload.^[8]

It would lack any orbit raising propulsion, but would keep the electric propulsion thrusters (SPT-100) supplied by OKB Fakel for station keeping. It would also use the Russian solar panels and have versions designed for highly elliptical orbit like Molniya orbit so important for the northerner regions of Russia.^[8]

During 2009, the plan was to start with a series of satellites in HEO orbits for the Russian government, called Ekspress-RV Экспресс-РВ). It would be a constellation of three on orbit spacecraft with a fourth backup on Earth, but no further development have been communicated. Nor any of the expected foreign sales were closed.^[8]

List of satellites

The Ekspress bus has seen many successes, both for the commercial market and the military programs. Here is a list of all known orders as of July 2016.

See also

• ISS Reshetnev – The Ekspress bus designer and manufacturer.
• Russian Satellite Communications Company – The main Russian state operator of communications satellites.
• Ekspress Constellation – Communication satellite family operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company.
• Luch satellite constellation – A Russian relay satellites constellation that enable constant communications with the ISS and Soyuz-MS.
• GLONASS-K – Third generation of the GLONASS navigation satellite that is based on the Ekspress-1000 bus.
• GLONASS-K2 – Evolution of the GLONASS-K based on the Ekspress-1000A bus.

External links

• ISS Reshetnev

References