Express AT2 satellite built by ISS Reshetnev from Russia.

Express AT2 satellite built by ISS Reshetnev from Russia

The Express-AT2 satellite built by ISS Reshetnev is based on ISS-Reshetnev’s Express-1000 HTB platform. The satellite was designed for a 15+ years lifespan and had a launch mass of approximately 1,800kgs and power available to the payload of 5.6 kW. The satellite is fitted with 16 active Ku-band transponders.

Express-AT2 was launched on March 16th, 2014 in a dual launch with Express-AT1 also built by ISS-Reshetnev Company, on a Proton M launcher operated by launch operator ILS. Express-AT2 is currently stationed at 140° East.

Satellite operator Eutelsat has contracted a 15-year lease for transponders across Express AT2 which will principally serve the Tricolor TV and NTV Plus TV platforms.

Express AT2 is a high power Ku-band satellite designed to support expansion of digital services in the Russian Federation. Located at 140° East, Express AT2 delivers satellite broadcasting services to homes in Far East Russia. The satellite complements coverage of the European part of Russia provided by the Eutelsat 36B and 36C satellites located at 36° East.

JSC Information Satellite Systems – Reshetnev Company (ISS Reshetnev) named after Academician Mikhail Reshetnev, is the leading satellite manufacturer in Russia. The company designs and manufactures communications-, TV broadcasting-, navigation- and geodetic satellites, and is capable of providing a full range of services for the whole lifetime of a satellite mission, including ground-testing, integration and orbital control. In addition, the company also produces ground antennas for satellite communication.

JSC Information Satellite Systems is based in the closed city of Krasnoyarsk-26 (nowadays called Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk region) near the city of Krasnoyarsk. Current activities include being the prime developer of the GLONASS satellite positioning system and production of the Express-series of communications satellites. In addition to communications satellites, the company also produces research spacecraft, such as the Yubileiny research satellite, which was launched in May 2008.

In 2015 the company employed about 8,500 people and the annual operating budget was 625 million USD, of which two thirds comes from state orders, and a third from commercial orders. ISS Reshetnev is the largest satellite manufacturer of the Russian space Industry.