Meridian 1

This article is about the satellite, for the telephone see Nortel Meridian
Meridian 1
Mission type Communications
Operator VKS
COSPAR ID 2006-061A
SATCAT № 29668
Mission duration Mission failure
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer NPO-PM
Start of mission
Launch date 24 December 2006
Rocket Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat
Launch site Plesetsk 43/4
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Molniya
Perigee 2,473 kilometres (1,537 mi)
Apogee 37,882 kilometres (23,539 mi)
Inclination 65 degrees
Period 717 minutes
Epoch 6 July 2014

Meridian 1 (Russian: Меридиан-1), also known as Meridian No.11L, was a Russian communications satellite. It was the first satellite to be launched as part of the Meridian system, which will replace the older Molniya series.

Meridian 1 was the first Russian Government satellite to be launched by a Soyuz-2 rocket. The Soyuz-2.1a configuration was used, along with a Fregat upper stage. The launch occurred from Site 43/4 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 08:34:44 GMT on 24 December 2006.[1]

It was constructed by NPO-PM and is believed to be based on the Uragan-M satellite bus,[2] which has also been used for GLONASS navigation satellites. It operates in a Molniya orbit with a perigee of 900 kilometres (560 mi), an apogee of 39,000 kilometres (24,000 mi), and 65° inclination.[2]

The satellite entered service on 1 February 2007. By May 2009 it had failed. NPO-PM reported that an impact with a piece of debris had caused the spacecraft to malfunction.[3]

References

  1. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Krebs, Gunter. "Meridian (14F112)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  3. ↑ Zak, Anatoly. "The Meridian satellite (14F112)". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 3 May 2011.