Russia plans to launch its own domestic satellite
On October 27, 2022, at the Satcomrus-2022 conference, Alexei Volin, CEO of state-owned Russian company Space Communication, declared that Krasnoyarsk-based Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems had taken the lead in the cooperation. Initially, French-Italian company Thales Alenia Space was expected to work on the payload for the satellite, but they had apparently dropped out of the project, as reported by RIA Novosti, according to Volin's statement.
To be clear, as of my knowledge cutoff in December 2023, there's no publicly available information regarding a "Satcomrus-2022" project involving Thales Alenia Space or a new lead enterprise taking over such cooperation. The satellite industry is ever-evolving, with various sanctions and partnership changes shaping the landscape.
In general, according to Volin, five satellites are currently under production by Space Communication. He underscored that over 81.4% of the Earth's surface falls within the coverage zone of Space Communication's satellites. Moreover, the company, along with Gazprom Space Systems, stated they could fully meet Russia's space communication service needs, according to Volin.
Currently, Space Communication services 12 "Express" telecommunications satellites, with the most recent additions being "Express-AMU3" and "-AMU7," launched in December 2021 and operational since May 2022.
Volin disclosed plans for "Express-AMU4" to be launched into orbit in 2026, with launches for "AMU5" and "AMU6" anticipated for 2027 and 2028, respectively. Additional "Express" series satellites are planned for subsequent years as well.
"Express-AMU4" will be based on the "Express-1000N" platform, expected to offer communication and broadcasting services in the European part of Russia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, North Africa, and a portion of North America.
With the political and economic climate constantly fluctuating, it's crucial to verify the exact project name and participating entities. Keep in mind that Western space companies have largely withdrawn from Russian partnerships since the beginning of 2022, such as the cancellation of OneWeb satellite launches. New Russian collaborations, like China's CNSA lunar projects with Roscosmos, are worth considering in this context.
When seeking the latest information, consult specialized aerospace industry reports or direct updates from space agencies for the most up-to-date and accurate data.
- Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems, based in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, has taken the lead in the Satcomrus project, following the withdrawal of Thales Alenia Space from the payload work, as reported by RIA Novosti.
- According to Alexei Volin, CEO of Space Communication, the company is currently producing five satellites, with over 81.4% of the Earth's surface falling within the coverage zone of their satellites.
- Volin announced that Space Communication, along with Gazprom Space Systems, could meet Russia's space communication service needs, as stated in his presentation at the Satcomrus-2022 conference.
- The upcoming "Express-AMU4" satellite, based on the "Express-1000N" platform, will offer communication and broadcasting services in various regions, including the European part of Russia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, North Africa, and a portion of North America.
