Meridian (satellite)
Meridian ( Russian Меридиан , GRAY index 14F112) is the name of Russian communications satellites that orbit the earth on eccentric HEO orbits .
The satellites were developed and manufactured by NPO PM . A fleet of four Meridian satellites is to replace the outdated Molnija-1T and Molnija-3 satellites, which are responsible for both civil and military communications in northern parts of the country and at sea. In addition, Meridian is to take over the communication functions of the military Parus satellite system (Parus also performs navigation tasks). The guaranteed service life of the satellites is seven years. Due to the military use of the Meridian satellites, no images or technical data have been published.
The first satellite Meridian 1 was launched on December 24, 2006 with a Soyuz-2 / Fregat rocket from the Plesetsk cosmodrome . The satellite, which weighs around 2 tons, was launched from the Fregat stage about 3 hours after launch in a 1,012 × 39,816 km high orbit and was later successfully put into operation.
Start list
satellite | begin | NSSDC ID | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
Meridian No. 11L | December 24, 2006, 08:34 UTC | 2006-061A | |
Meridian No. 12L | May 21, 2009, 21:53 UTC | 2009-029A | did not reach the desired orbit |
Meridian No. 13L | November 2, 2010, 00:59 UTC | 2010-058A | |
Meridian No. 14L | May 4, 2011, 17:41 UTC | 2011-018A | |
Meridian No. 15L | December 23, 2011, 12:08 UTC | did not reach the desired orbit | |
Meridian No. 16L | November 14, 2012, 11:42 UTC | 2012-063A | |
Meridian No. 17L | October 30, 2014, 01:43 UTC | 2014-069A | |
Meridian No. 18L | July 30, 2019, 05:56 UTC | 2019-046A | |
Meridian No. 19L | February 20, 2020, 08:24 UTC | 2020-015A |
All launches were carried out with a Soyuz-2-1a missile with a Fregat upper stage from launch complex 43 in Plesetsk .
swell
- The Meridian satellite on russianspaceweb.com (English)
- Meridian in the Encyclopedia Astronautica (English)
- Meridian (14F112) on Gunter's Space Page (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Russian Meridian Satellite in orbit is working according to plan. RIA Novosti, December 25, 2006, accessed May 22, 2009 .