OREANDA-NEWS. ISS-Reshetnev Company has finished building two telecommunications satellites - Express-AT1 and Express-AT2.

Final check-out procedures and pre-shipment preparations went swimmingly well. Express-AT1 and Express-AT2 were flown aboard an aircraft in a dedicated climate controlled container intended to maintain optimal environment throughout the journey. Sensors inside the shipping container monitored the spacecraft conditions - temperature, humidity and mechanical stress and sent real-time data to the ISS-Reshetnev team, thus allowing them to ensure that the satellites would remain safe during their journey from the company's premises to the cosmodrome.

The cargo aircraft delivered the two telecommunications spacecraft to Baikonur on February 3, kicking off pre-launch preparations at the spaceport. Express-AT1 and Express-AT2 are slated for dual launch in mid-March.