Express AT1 and Express AT2 launch a success
Cannes, March 17, 2014 – The Express AT1 and Express AT2 telecommunications satellites have been successfully launched from Baikonur by a Proton rocket. The payloads for these two satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space for prime contractor ISS Reshetnev on behalf of the Russian operator RSCC (Russian Satellite Communications Company). Built on the Express 1000 platform from ISS Reshetnev, the two satellites were assembled, integrated and tested at ISS Reshetnev's facilities in Zheleznogorsk, Russia.
Express AT1 will be positioned at 56° East, and offers a design life exceeding 15 years. It will provide about 6.7 kW of payload power, and is fitted with 32 Ku-band transponders to cover both eastern and western Russia.
Express AT2 will be positioned at 140° East, and also offers a design life exceeding 15 years. Fitted with 16 active Ku-band transponders to cover western Russia, it will provide about 3.5 kW of payload power.
The successful partnership between Russia and Thales Alenia Space reaches back over 20 years, to the SESAT program. RSCC is a major customer for Thales Alenia Space, which has provided payloads for a large number of its satellites, integrated on Russian platforms: Express A1, Express A2, Express A3, Express A4, Express A4R, Express AM11, Express AM22, Express AM2, Express AM3, Express AM33 and Express AM44 (on ISS platforms), plus the Express MD1 and Express MD2 satellites (using Krunichev platforms).
"We are delighted to share the success of this dual launch with RSCC and ISS-Reshetnev, with whom we also created the joint venture, Universum Space Technologies, dedicated to the production of equipment meeting the latest international standards for domestic payloads," said Jean-Loïc Galle, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. "The new joint venture, based in Russia and majority owned by ISS, will enable the two parent companies to address new segments in both Russian and export markets. Thales Alenia Space has made a strong contribution to the consolidation of the space industry in several countries, and we are now firmly established as the natural industrial partner to support developing space programs in leading countries."
About Thales Alenia Space
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%), is a key European player in space telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, exploration and orbital infrastructures. Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio form the two parent companies' “Space Alliance”, which offers a complete range of services and solutions. Because of its unrivaled expertise in dual (civil/military) missions, constellations, flexible payloads, altimetry, meteorology and high-resolution optical and radar instruments, Thales Alenia Space is the natural partner to countries that want to expand their space program. The company posted consolidated revenues in excess of 2 billion euros in 2013, and has 7,500 employees in six countries. www.thalesaleniaspace.com
Thales Alenia Space Press Contacts:
Sandrine Bielecki
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94
sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com
Tarik Lahlou
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 68 45
tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com