OrbitalHub

Wikipedia dicit:

The Proton-M launch vehicle consists of three stages; all of them powered by liquid rocket engines using the hypergolic propellant combination of dinitrogen tetroxide as the oxidizer, and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine for fuel.

The first stage is unique in that it consists of a central cylindrical oxidizer tank with the same diameter as the other two stages with six fuel tanks attached to its circumference, each carrying an engine. The engines in this stage can swivel tangentially up to 7° from the neutral position, providing full thrust vector control. The rationale for this design is logistics: the diameter of the oxidizer tanks and the two following stages is the maximum that can be delivered by railroad to Baikonur. However, within Baikonur the fully assembled stack is transported again by rail, as it has enough clearance.

The second stage uses a conventional cylindrical design. It is powered by three RD-0210 engines and one RD-0211 engine. The RD-0211 is a modified version of the RD-0210 used to pressurize the propellant tanks. The second stage is joined to the first stage through a net instead of a closed inter-stage, to allow the exhaust to escape because the second stage begins firing seconds before separation. Thrust vector control is provided by engine gimballing.

The third stage is also of a conventional cylindrical design. It contains the avionics system that controls the first two stages. It uses one RD-0213 which is a fixed (non-gimballed) version of the RD-0210, and one RD-0214 which is a four nozzle vernier engine used for thrust vector control. The nozzles of the RD-0214 can turn up to 45°; they are placed around (with some separation), and moderately above the nozzle of the RD-0213.

The Proton-M features modifications to the lower stages to reduce structural mass, increase thrust, and utilise more propellant (less of it remains unused in the tanks). A closed-loop guidance system is used on the first stage, which allows more complete consumption of propellant. This increases the rocket’s performance slightly compared to previous variants, and reduces the amount of toxic chemicals remaining in the stage when it impacts downrange. It can place up to 21 tonnes (46,000 lb) into low Earth orbit. With an upper stage, it can place a 3 tonne payload into geosynchronous orbit, or a 5.5 tonne payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Efforts were also made to reduce dependency on foreign component suppliers.

Video Credit: Roscosmos

Wikipedia dicit:

Yamal 601 (Russian: Ямал-601) is a geostationary communications satellite ordered by Gazprom Space Systems to ISS Reshetnev on the Ekspress-2000 platform for its Yamal program. The Ekspress-2000 platform is the heavy version, which can weigh up to 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) and generate up to 14 kW of power on an unpressurized bus designed for direct GEO injection with 15 years of design life. Its payload will be supplied by Thales Alenia Space and is composed of 38 C band, and 32 Ka band transponders. It will replace Yamal 202 on 49°E when it reaches its end of service around 2018.

Video Credit: Roscosmos

Wikipedia dixit:

“Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited known as its brand name AsiaSat is a commercial operator of communication spacecraft. AsiaSat is based in Hong Kong but incorporated in Bermuda. It is a red chip company, as it was (jointly) controlled by Chinese state-owned CITIC Group indirectly. It had a market capitalization of HK$3.251 billion on 30 June 2017.

In December 2013, AsiaSat commissioned AsiaSat 9 to be built by Space Systems/Loral, originally intending it to be launched in Q2 2017 in order to replace AsiaSat 4 at 122 degrees east. In early 2015, AsiaSat reported a nine percent revenue drop, and a 27 percent drop in contracts, pointing to a regional oversupply of satellite communication services in the Asian regions it serves. At that time, AsiaSat had four commsats in operation and had recently launched two more, AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8, which had added 22 percent additional bandwidth capacity into the shrinking market. Although revenues were down just nine percent—to HK$1365 billion—2014 profits declined by 25 percent over 2013, to HK$559 million.”

Video credit: Roscosmos

Wikipedia dixit:

“EchoStar was originally formed in 1980 as a distributor of C band TV systems. In 1987, it applied for a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) license with the Federal Communications Commission and was granted access to orbital slot 119° west longitude in 1992. On December 28, 1995, the firm successfully launched its first satellite, EchoStar I. On March 4, 1996, it established the Dish Network brand name to market its home satellite TV system.

In 1998, EchoStar purchased the broadcasting assets of a satellite broadcasting joint venture of News Corporation’s ASkyB and MCI Worldcom. With this purchase the firm obtained 28 of the 32 transponder licenses in the 110° W orbital slot, more than doubling existing CONUS broadcasting capacity at a value of $682.5 million. The acquisition inspired the company to introduce a multi-satellite system called DISH 500, theoretically capable of receiving more than 500 channels on one dish.
“Legacy” represent the 950 to 1450 MHz frequencies used to deliver the signal throughout the home; the signal is broadcast to the home on the Ku band from satellite (12.2-12.7 GHz). Ku frequencies will not work on home wiring, the signal is downconverted to the intermediate frequency (IF) of 950-1450 MHz at the dish antenna. Newer technology (DishPro) also uses 1650-2150 MHz in addition to 950-1450.

Also in 1998, the firm, in association with Bell Canada, launched Bell TV. On September 25, 2007, the firm announced it had agreed to acquire Sling Media, Inc.
On January 2, 2008, the Dish Network business was demerged from the technology and infrastructure side of the business. A split in the shares created two companies, DISH Network Corporation which consists mainly of the DISH Network business, and EchoStar Corporation which retains ownership of the technology side including the satellites, Sling Media, and the set-top box development arm. DISH Network completed its distribution to Echostar of its digital set-top box business, certain infrastructure, and other assets and related liabilities, including certain of their satellites, uplink and satellite transmission assets, and real estate (the “Spin-off”). Since the Spin-off, EchoStar and DISH Network have operated as separate publicly-traded companies. However, as a result of the Satellite and Tracking Stock Transaction, DISH Network owns shares of EchoStar and their subsidiary’s preferred tracking stock representing an aggregate 80.0% economic interest in the residential retail satellite broadband business of their Hughes segment.

EchoStar 21 will provide mobile broadband services over Europe with an S-band payload for EchoStar Mobile Ltd (formerly known as TerreStar 2).”

Video credit: Roscosmos

SSL dixit:

“Intelsat 30/DLA-1 and Intelsat 31/DLA-2 are high-power, advanced satellites that will provide Direct-to-Home (DTH) television service in Latin America. The satellites are being built for and will be operated by Intelsat, which will lease a majority of the satellite capacity to DIRECTV Latin America, a leading DTH digital television services operator in Latin America. Using spot-beam frequency reuse and the industry’s best technologies, the Ku-band payloads will greatly expand DTH entertainment offerings in Latin America and provide backup and restoration services. The two satellites are designed based on the flight-proven SSL 1300 platform and are contracted to provide service for a minimum of 15 years. […] The satellites will be co-located with Intelsat’s Galaxy 3C satellite at 95 degrees West.”

Video credit: Roscosmos