Russian Express-80 and Express-103 communications satellites embarking Thales Alenia Space payloads, successful launched

July 31, 2020

The Express-80 and Express-103 communications satellites have been successfully launched by the launcher Proton from the Cosmodrome of Baikonour in Kazaksthan. The satellites are the result of the partnership between the Russian company ISS Reshetnev, providing the H1000 platforms and Thales Alenia Space, a Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) joint-venture, providing the payloads.

The mission of both Express-80 and Express-103 satellites, which will last 15 years, is to provide fixed and mobile communications, digital television and radio broadcasting, high-speed Internet access and data transmission services in the Russian territory, the operator is RSCC (Russian Satellite Communication company).

Express 80 will operate at 80°E, the payload consists of 18 C band active transponders and 20 Ku-band active transponders, covering the Russian territories, in addition, 2 L-band active transponders will provide global coverage. The Payload power is 6.3 kW.

Express 103 will operate at 103° E (or 96.5° E), the power, also in this case, is 6.3 kW. The payload consists of 18 C band active transponders and 20 Ku-band active transponders covering Russian and South-Eastern Asiatic territories, in addition 1 L-band active transponder will provide global coverage.

Thales Alenia Space has been teaming up with Russia for over twenty years, starting with the SEASAT program. Over this period, Thales Alenia Space provided payloads for the satellites Express-A1, ExpressA2, Express-A3, Express-A4, Express-AM11, Express AM22, Express AM2, Express-AM3, Express-AM33, Express-AM44, Express AM8, AT1 and AT2, Kazsat 3, Express 80 and 103 and AMU7, the platform being provided by ISS Reshetnev. In addition Thales Alenia Space provided the payloads for Express-MD1, Express-MD2, Kazsat 1 and Kazsat 2 satellites, the platform being developed by the Russian company Khrunichev.

The partnership with ISS-Reshetnev started in 2000 when, Thales Alenia Space and ISS implemented a joint marketing strategy based on the ISS Express-1000 satellite platform. By combining their complementary products and technologies, ISS Reshetnev and Thales Alenia Space formed a partnership leading to major international successes, such as Telkom 3, Kazsat 3 and Yamal 401 satellites.