MOSCOW. Sept 28 (Interfax-AVN) - The Express-AM1 satellite developed by the Reshetnev Applied Mechanics Research and Production Association was airlifted from Krasnoyarsk to Baikonur on Tuesday.
"Before the departure, the satellite underwent a full scale of tests at the association. It will stand more preparation procedures at Baikonur before it is launched October 30, 2004, as scheduled. The satellite will occupy the position in the geostationary orbit at 40 degrees east," reads the press release of the enterprise received by Interfax-Military News Agency Tuesday.
According to the press service, the satellite will provide a pack of multiservices, including digital television, telephone and video conference communications, datalink, wide-band access to Internet, as well as will be utilized for development of VSAT technology.
"The satellites of this series are included into the 2001-2005 Russian federal space program. These satellites are the most powerful in their type. They are intended to renew the space group of Russian spacecraft in orbit. The satellites' service zone covers other countries, rather than Russia alone," the association's Deputy Director General Gennady Keselman said.
"Express-AM1 is the third in the series, manufactured under the contract with the Federal agency on space communications. Japanese NTSpace is a subcontractor under the program, supplying some equipment to be installed in the satellite," he added.
"We fulfilled our commitments and sent the satellite to the launch site September 28, as promised. It will be followed by Express-AM2 and AM3. Moreover, we signed another contract with the Kosmicheskaya Svyaz enterprise for two more satellites of the type, namely Express-AM33 and AM44," he said.