EXPRESS AM44 Satellite

Intersputnik successfully transfers its customers from Express 3A to Express AM44. All Express 3A customers have been transferred to the new satellite on schedule, owing to close cooperation between Intersputnik's and RSCC's technical departments.

On February 11, 2009, two telecommunications and broadcasting satellites - Express AM44 and Express MD1 - were successfully launched to the assigned orbit from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, by a Proton-M launch vehicle with a Breeze-M upper stage. Both spacecraft are now controlled by the RSCC mission control center. As originally planned, on May 7, 2009, Express AM44 was brought into use at 11W as part of RSCC's satellite fleet. Comprehensive tests of the payload module of the spacecraft showed positive results. Express AM44 will replace the Express 3A satellite that has approached its end of life and will offer capacity both for video and audio broadcasting and other telecommunications services such as voice, data and broadband internet. Also, it will be used for special purposes.