[Satellite TODAY 05-17-10] The Russian Satellite Communications Co.’s (RSCC) Express-AM1 satellite suffered a failure, the said May 17.
     Express-AM1 covers the European part of Russia, CIS, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and India and is designed to provide services such as digital TV, telephony, videoconferencing, data transfer, Internet access, mobile communications as well as to establish VSAT networks.
     The satellite, manufactured by ISS Reshetnev with a payload provided by NEC/Toshiba Space Systems, began operations in February 2005 and carries nine C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders and was the first satellite in the Express-AM series equipped with an L- band transponder for government use.