Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M | Meridian-M No.18
43/4 (43R)
Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
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Russian Space Forces
The Russian Space Forces are a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces, that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and protection for Russia. Having been reestablished following August 1, 2015 merger between the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces after a 2011 dissolving of the branch. The Russian Space Forces were originally formed on August 10, 1992 and the creation of the Russian Armed Forces.
Meridian-M No.18
The Meridian series of communications satellites is reported to be the replacement for all the Molniya-1T, the Molniya-3 and Molniya-3K satellite series and possibly also for the communication component of the Parus. They are launched into highly eccentric Molniya-orbits. Meridian is the highly eccentric orbit (HEO) component of the Integrated Satellite Communications System (ISSS), where they work in conjunction with the geostationary Raduga-1M (Globus-M) satellites. The bus structure is reportedly pressurized, possibly based on the Uragan-M bus. Meridian satellites carry three transponders operating in different frequency bands.
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M
Height 46.30 Meters
Max Stages 3
Mass To GTO 0 kg
Liftoff Thrust 4149 kN
Diameter 2.95 Meters
Mass To LEO 7020 kg
Liftoff Mass 312 Tonnes
Launch Success 17
Consecutive Success 8
Maiden Flight 2010-10-19
Launch Failures 1
