On April 18, 2015 ISS Company n.a. Academician M.F. Reshetnev celebrated the 15th anniversary of launching into orbit a geostationary communications satellite Sesat, designed and constructed at the commission of the European satellite operator Eutelsat.
The contract on designing and manufacturing a Sesat satellite (Siberian-European Satellite) was signed on August 4, 1995, and originated the implementation of the first international satellite construction project in the history of the JSC ISS n.a. Academician M.F. Reshetnev and the Russian satellite construction industry in general. This commission became the first in a series of key satellite projects, successfully implemented by the Russian company in full accordance with existing standards of the international aerospace industry. The satellite’s launch took place on April 18, 2000.
The Sesat satellite was the first vehicle with a design lifetime of 10 years. While constructing that satellite ISS Company used for the first time the most recent scheme, not applied in the Russian aerospace industry before, i.e. the satellite was assembled in the form of two modules: a payload module and a servicing system module (satellite platform). It was also the first time that the company created a computer model of a relay satellite.
Pursuant to the Sesat project ISS Company n.a. Academician M.F. Reshetnev was responsible for producing maintenance system module, assembling and all necessary satellite testing, as well as for launching Sesat satellite into orbit. In addition, ISS Company n.a. Academician M.F. Reshetnev also constructed a ground control center and delivered satellite control trainings to the client company’s representatives.
Subject to the terms of the contract with the European operator Eutelsat, the technical staff of JSC ISS n.a. Academician M.F. Reshetnev provides all required technical support to the client in the course of satellite’s operation.
The Sesat satellite has already survived five years above the design lifetime of its staying in orbit. Its actual position is 14,5°E, where it continues accomplishing its missions of providing to European subscribers television broadcasting services, Internet access, data transmission, as well as fixed-line and mobile communications.
We shall recall that this month its anniversary is also celebrated by the first Soviet communications satellite Molniya-1 – 50 years since its successful launch.
