Yamal 401 satellite during construction. Photo: ISS Reshetnev

[Via Satellite 08-28-2014] Russian satellite manufacturer ISS-Reshetnev has completed building the Yamal 401 telecommunications satellite. Fabricated for Gazprom Space Systems, the satellite is slated to launch on a Proton rocket.

Yamal 401 is the third satellite ISS-Reshetnev has built on its heavy-class Express-2000 bus. The 2976-kilogram spacecraft can provide 11 kW of power and has a design life of 15 years. ISS-Reshetnev is also building the ground control complex to manage the satellite.

The new Gazprom satellite is to be located at 90 degrees east where it will provide communications and broadcasting services to Europe and Asia. Yamal 401 is designed to operate in Ku-band through the use of 53 transponders and six antennas.