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Further Reading

Luch

07-26-10

A second GEO telecommunications system initially hidden within the Kosmos program is the Satellite Data Relay Network (SDRN) which is analogous to the U.S. Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). Three Luch spacecraft (not to be confused with the Luch transponder system on Gorizont spacecraft) were launched between 1985 and 1989: Kosmos 1700, Kosmos 1897, and Kosmos 2054. Although three locations have been registered with the International Telecommunications Union (16 degrees W, 95 degrees E, and 160 degrees W), only the first two have been employed to date.

Each Luch spacecraft (also referred to as Altair satellites) has a mass of 2.4 metric tons and two extended solar arrays capable of supplying 1.8 kW. Three large antennas and numerous, small helical antennas permit date relays in the 15/14, 15/11, and 0.9/0.7 GHz bands. Terrestrial stations may employ simple 0.8-2 m antennas. The system is especially well suited for space-to-space communications, including the Mir space station and the now cancelled Buran space shuttle. The Luch spacecraft has a design lifetime of 5 years (References 308 and 309).

At the beginning of 1993 the only operational Luch spacecraft was Kosmos 2054, stationed at 16 degrees W. Finally, on 16 December 1994 Luch 1 was launched and later positioned at 95 degrees E. This 2-satellite network is now used primarily in support of the Mir space station program.

Two New Luch-5A & 5B Geosynchronous COMSAT  

The Russian Federations approved FSP 2006-2015 program requested the development and financing of the data relay satellites Luch-5A and Luch-5B to be built by the Information Satellite Systems/Reshetnyov once was known as the NPO PM of Krasnoyarsk. The COMSAT Data Relay satellites are being developed with Russian Express-1000 bus satellite platform with western companies providing some critical modernizing components. They will be launched on the Proton-M booster with a companion Israeli, Express-1000 bus based Amos-5 satellite to make up the total payload mass required even though they were originally planned for launch on the cheaper Soyuz-Fregat booster. Luch-5A is to be launched in the first half of 2011 while the second Luch-5B may be launched in 2012 with some companion satellite. This may turn out to be an Iranian COMSAT package. Further developments of the Express-2000 platform are to be the basis of the Luch-4 tentatively scheduled for launch on Proton-M in December 2013. These three global data relay satellites will in fact save Roskosmos a considerable fortune now paid NASA for the TDRS data relay services.