Meridian 4

Meridian 4
Mission type Communications
Operator VKS (2011)
VKO (2012-)
COSPAR ID 2011-018A
SATCAT № 37398
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type Meridian
Manufacturer ISS Reshetnev
Start of mission
Launch date 4 May 2011, 17:41:33 (2011-05-04UTC17:41:33Z) UTC[1]
Rocket Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat
Launch site Plesetsk 43/4
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Molniya
Perigee 1,418 kilometres (881 mi)
Apogee 38,948 kilometres (24,201 mi)
Inclination 64.39 degrees
Period 717.75 minutes
Epoch 3 July 2014, 23:30:26 UTC[2]

Meridian 4 (Russian: Меридиан-4), also known as Meridian No.14L, is a Russian military communications satellite. It was launched atop a Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in May 2011.

It is the fourth satellite to be launched as part of the Meridian system, which will replace the older Molniya series. It was constructed by ISS Reshetnev and is believed to be based on the Uragan-M satellite bus, which has also been used for GLONASS navigation satellites.

Meridian satellites are launched into highly elliptical Molniya orbits to provide communications coverage of the Northern Hemisphere for the Russian military.

See also

References

  1. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  2. "MERIDIAN 4 Satellite details 2011-018A NORAD 37398". N2YO. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.


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