Ekspress (satellite bus)

The Ekspress-1000 (Russian: Экспресс-1000) in its different variations offers an platform for small to medium satellites. It is a direct to GEO bus for total spacecraft weights from 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb) to 2,200 kilograms (4,900 lb) and having a power production from 3 kW to 8 kW with a life expectancy of 15 years.[1] It is designed for directly stacking up to 3 of the smallest version (Ekspress-1000K) or 2 of the bigger ones.[7]

• Ekspress-1000K (Russian: Экспресс-1000K): The smallest platform. It is designed for spacecraft up to 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb), with space for 250 kilograms (550 lb) of payload and up to 3 kW of power generation and 1.8 kW of heat dissipation. It can be stacked up to three Ekspress-1000K.[7][9]

• Ekspress-1000H (Russian: Экспресс-1000Н): The middle platform. It is designed for spacecraft up to 1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb), with space for 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) of payload and up to 5.6 kW of power generation and 3.5 kW of heat dissipation. It can be dual stacked with Ekspress-1000K or Ekspress-1000H.[7][9]

• Ekspress-1000SH (Russian: Экспресс-1000SH): The biggest platform. It is designed for spacecraft up to 2,200 kilograms (4,900 lb), with space for 700 kilograms (1,500 lb) of payload and up to 8 kW of power generation and 5 kW of heat dissipation. It can be dual stacked with an Ekspress-1000K.[7][9]

• Ekspress-1000HT (Russian: Экспресс-1000НТ): Evolution of the SH platform.[7]

• Ekspress-1000HTA (Russian: Экспресс-1000НТА): Evolution of the HT platform.[7]

• Ekspress-1000HTV (Russian: Экспресс 1000НТВ): Evolution of the HTA platform.[7]

The Ekspress-2000 (Russian: Экспресс-2000) is the fruits of the collaboration with Thales Alenia Space and their Spacebus 4000 experience with the Ekspress-1000H.[4][9] It is a big platform for spacecraft massing up to 3,500 kilograms (7,700 lb), with space for 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) of payload and up to 14 kW of power generation and 7.5 kW of heat dissipation. It is, as the rest of the family, a direct to GEO bus and given its size it is not designed to be stacked. It has an expected design life of 15 years.[7][2]

The Ekspress-4000 (Russian: Экспресс-4000) is a collaboration with Thales Alenia Space to mix the best elements of the Ekspress-2000 with the Spacebus 4000.[9] It would be a direct to GEO platform for spacecraft massing up to 3,200 kg (7,100 lb) and having a power production of 14 kW with a life expectancy of 15 years. This would enable more than 60 transponders of payload.[8]

It would lack any orbit raising propulsion, but would keep the electric propulsion thrusters (SPT-100) supplied by OKB Fakel for station keeping. It would also use the Russian solar panels and have versions designed for highly elliptical orbit like Molniya orbit so important for the northerner regions of Russia.[8]

During 2009, the plan was to start with a series of satellites in HEO orbits for the Russian government, called Ekspress-RV Экспресс-РВ). It would be a constellation of three on orbit spacecraft with a fourth backup on Earth, but no further development have been communicated. Nor any of the expected foreign sales were closed.[8]