THE PROJECT OF THE RUSSIAN COMMUNICATION SATELLITE OF SMALL CLASS, OPERATING IN THE GEOSTATIONARY AND HIGH-ELLIPTICAL ORBITS

摘要

In 1994-95 Lavochkin Association (Russia) together with the other enterprises in according to technical task of Russian Space agency has developed the new Russian communication satellite of a small class that will be operating in the geostationary (GSO) and high-elliptical (HEO) orbits. This satellite may be injected into operational orbits using SOYUZ-2 launch vehicle (LV) and FREGAT upper stage (US) from Plesetsk and Baykonur space launch sites. The main precondition of the creating such satellite was to decrease cost of the support and development of the Russian communication geostationary satellites group. Russian satellites Horizont, Express, Ekran and Gals, which are operating in GSO, are base of space segment for a communication, RF and TV broadcasting. All of these satellites are injected into GSO by the PROTON LV. PROTON is a launch vehicle of a heavy class. The using of middle class LV instead of heavy will allow to reduce considerably the launch cost. The change of the heavy class LV on the LV of middle class determined an economic reason of this project. Besides the opportunity to launch S/C into GSO from Russian Plesetsk SLS raises independence of Russia in the domain of space communication despite presence of the contract with Kazachstan about the rent of Baykonur SLS. And at last, use of small satellites with rather small number of transponders is more effective then use of big satellites. It will allow also to increase a satellite group (to launch the additional satellites) precisely in according to the development of ground segment.