OREANDA-NEWS. The Express-AM5 telecommunications spacecraft, designed and constructed by Information Satellite Systems - Reshetnev Company, was successfully launched on December 26, 2013.

The satellite rocketed into orbit from the Baikonur cosmodrome on a Proton-M / Breeze-M launch vehicle. The lift-off took place at 14.49 Moscow time, the satellite separated from the upper stage at 00.12.

A ground control station has already received signals from the spacecraft, verifying it is healthy in orbit - solar panels deployed, the onboard equipment is performing as designed, Sun acquisition completed successfully.

Once its orbit control propulsion unit is checked, the spacecraft will continue moving towards the designated orbit. Express-AM5 is the first Russian spacecraft to use additional pulses of its electrical propulsion system to reach geostationary orbit. It's estimated that the satellite's journey to its final orbital slot will take about 90 days.

Express-AM5 is the first satellite built around ISS-Reshetnev's unified heavy-class Express-2000 platform which high-performance characteristics enabled the spacecraft to carry the mission payload comprising 84 transponders in four frequency bands. With approximately 15 kW of payload power, this 3400-kg satellite is the most powerful Russian telecommunications spacecraft built to date.

Express-AM5 was developed and manufactured by ISS-Reshetnev under a contract awarded by the national operator RSCC (Russian Satellite Communications Company). The satellite is intended to provide digital television and radio broadcasting services across Russia, mobile presidential and government communications, multimedia services (telephony, videoconferencing, data transmission, Internet access) as well as solutions based on VSAT network technologies.