Russia’s new Express-AT1 and Express-AT2 DBS satellites orbited successfully

 16 March, 2014 

The new Russian communications and broadcasting satellites, Express-AT1 and Express-AT2, were successfully orbited on 16 March 2014. Proton M lifted off from Baikonur at 03h08min00s msk. АТ1 and АТ2 will be deployed in a geostationary orbit at 56˚E and 140˚E orbital slots, respectively, to provide DBS services to users across all of the Russian territory.

The Express-AT1 and Express-AT2 satellites were ordered by RSCC as part of Russia’s Federal Space Program for 2006-2015. The satellites were built by JSC Information Satellite Systems - Reshetnev Company in conjunction with Thales Alenia Space - France. The satellites’ active service life is 15 years.

Express-AT1 will be commissioned following completion of in-orbit tests in April 2014. Commercial operation of Express-AT2 will start in May 2014.

«The launch of Express-AT1 and Express-AT2 DBS satellites is critical for the development of domestic DBS market. Users in Siberia and the Far East will gain access to new Russian and international TV channels. The networks currently operated by Bonum-1 will be switched by RSCC specialists over to the new satellites after their commissioning, paving the way for many fascinating projects in Russia», - stressed Yuri Prokhorov, RSCC Director-General.