Russian Express-AM22 Satellite Launched

The Russian Satellite Communications Corp.’s (RSCC) Express-AM22 satellite was successfully launched Dec. 29 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Proton rocket. The satellite, which will be located at 53 degrees East Longitude, is expected to be operational following in-orbit tests. The satellite was manufactured by Alcatel Space and launched by Khrunichev State Research and Production Center.

The Express-AM22 launch is the first in a five-satellite campaign to enhance the Russian national satellite system capacity by the end of 2005. The launch was performed under the Federal Space Program of Russia and concluded a successful year for the Proton launch vehicle with five launches in 2003.