The company history
In 50 - 60-s of the XXth century the USSR and the USA used to be recognized world leaders in space exploration industry. In the middle of 60-s the construction of Soviet Molnia satellite and American Telstar satellite stimulated the rash development of satellite communications throughout the world. In recent years a great number of satellite communication and broadcasting systems of various functional capabilities, service areas, patterns and capacities has been deployed.
In the early 60-s it became clear that production of broadcasting and communication satellites was vitally important and commercially justified. The USSR became the first country paving the way to development of direct TV broadcasting and operation of satellites in high-elliptical orbits. High-elliptical communication satellites (Molnia series) were put into operation in 1965. The first geo-stationary Ekran-M satellite was launched to provide direct TV broadcasting in 1976.
In 1967, a K-40 unsophisticated aluminium cabin equipped with transceiving hardware was deployed on the ground of radio testing site in Moscow vicinity. The antenna system was assembled on the testing field to transmit signals. The first pilot satellite communication session with the city of Vladivostok was held on November 2, 1967. The Central TV signal received from Ostankino TV Center was transmitted via Molnia-1 satellite. It was the first step in satellite communications development. Transmission of TV/radio programs of "Orbita" system started via "Molnia-1" satellite on October 20, 1967. Thus, "The Union Communications Node No.9" was set up in February 1968 by the order of the USSR Ministry of Communications. Later, the Node became a leading state operator of satellite constellation named RUSSIAN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY State Enterprise, which obtained the status of Federal State Unitary Enterprise in April 19, 2001, and was given the name of Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC).
The history of RSCC is inextricably linked to the history of production of Russian broadcasting and communication satellites. In the USSR history the preference was given to the construction of manned and scientific spacecraft, that is why the first national geo-stationary communication satellites were substantially inferior to the foreign spacecraft in terms of performance and technical parameters. For comparison: Raduga satellite (3-year lifetime) carried only 6 C-band transponders, while Intelsat-4 satellite (5-year design lifetime) carried 12 C-band transponders. Raduga satellite was unable to correct orbital inclinations, and this resulted in the shorter service lifetime.
Actually, all activities related to development of national satellite constellation were suspended in 80-s. The first new Russian communication and broadcasting satellite of Express series was put into operation only 15 years later after the first Gorizont satellite was launched.
In the early 90-s, new economic situation caused national defense enterprises to offer their developments with parameters meeting high world standards. A new phase in the communication and broadcasting development in Russia in the 90-s is related not only to the utilization of foreign radio-relay hardware but also to the application of domestic cutting-edge technologies.
In 1998, in the context of Federal Space Program of Russia, RSCC signed a contract with NPO PM, national manufacturer of spacecraft, for designing and production of new up-to-date Express-A series satellites with improved technical parameters. The satellite payloads were produced by Alcatel, France. In 2000, two satellites of Express-A series were successfully launched into orbit and became forerunners of the Project for Renovation of National Satellite Constellation.
RSCC won the tender announced by Eutelsat in 1997 and signed a 12-year contract to control and monitor Eutelsat-W series satellites. Currently, services in monitoring of the Eutelsat and Intelsat satellites are being extended.
In 1998, the Control Center was set up on the territory of RSCC Dubna Satellite Communications Center to control LMI satellites. It was done to expand international satellite communications in the context of the program for the development of Intersputnik.
Dubna history
Bear Lakes history
