Ekspress-AM4
| Names | Express-AM4 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) |
| COSPAR ID | 2011-045A |
| SATCAT no. | 37798 |
| Website | https://eng.rscc.ru/ |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned) Failed on orbit |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Ekspress-AM4 |
| Spacecraft type | Ekspress |
| Bus | EADS Astrium |
| Manufacturer | Eurostar-3000 |
| Launch mass | 5,775 kg (12,732 lb) |
| Power | 14 kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 17 August 2011, 21:25:01 UTC |
| Rocket | Proton-M / Briz-M |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Contractor | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Deorbited |
| Decay date | 28 March 2012 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Medium Earth orbit Geostationary orbit (planned) |
| Longitude | 80° East (planned) |
| Perigee altitude | 695 km (432 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 20,239 km (12,576 mi) |
| Inclination | 51.1° |
| Period | 6.04 hours |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 63 transponders: 30 C-band, 28 Ku-band, 2 Ka-band, 3 L-band |
| Coverage area | Russia |
Ekspress-AM4 was a Russian communications satellite placed into the wrong orbit from a faulty Briz-M rocket stage. This satellite was to be part of the Ekspress series of geostationary communications satellites owned by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). Proposals were made to reposition the satellite to provide broadband services to Antarctica, but ultimately the decision was made to de-orbit the satellite. On 28 March 2012, the satellite splashed into the Pacific Ocean.