With a name like Equator, perhaps it implies a GEO payload?
Quote from: Asteroza on 05/11/2022 05:34 amWith a name like Equator, perhaps it implies a GEO payload?We should be careful not to read too much into Russian satellite names, but the fact is of course that the Proton-M/Briz-M combination has so far only been used for launches to GEO (not taking into account the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter). I've been wondering why an environmental assessment impact report is required for the launch, but I presume this is a standard procedure for a launch carrying a new type of satellite and does not necessarily point to a unique launch trajectory. There might be a link with an obscure satellite project that ISS Reshetnev is working on as a subcontractor to the Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics (CNIIHM).See the latest post in the CNIIHM thread:https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48108.0But it's hard then to explain the involvement of Glavkosmos Launch Services.
Some people have speculated that the use of GKLS is merely for the use of a previously commercial Proton for an expired MoU and also as a poor cover mechanism. It could also be a cover for a joint Iranian project or something but no strong indications for the latter.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 05/11/2022 09:24 pmSome people have speculated that the use of GKLS is merely for the use of a previously commercial Proton for an expired MoU and also as a poor cover mechanism. It could also be a cover for a joint Iranian project or something but no strong indications for the latter.Iran crossed my mind as well. Early this century, Russia and Iran reached an agreement under which Russia would build and launch two communications satellites for Iran (named Zohreh), but the deal fell through several years later. It's not unthinkable that Iran again approached Russia for this more recently. There was a report in late 2016 that Iran was conducting talks with two or three foreign companies to build a national telecommunications satellite.https://www.iran.ru/news/economics/103953/Iran_planiruet_vskore_zapustit_eshche_3_sputnika_v_kosmosRussia is also building a remote sensing satellite for Iran (which appears to be close to launch). That deal was announced with quite a lot of fanfare in 2015, but the project went into a news blackout in the following years, with Putin even denying its existence last year. So if an agreement was recently signed on a joint comsat project, that would probably have been done hush-hush as well. No real evidence for this though as far as I know.
https://twitter.com/IrnaEnglish/status/1526169254055256065?t=XvYTA60zJH_loUM0748Aug&s=19
Iranian Project 505 Satellite launch entry popped up on NK forum via a source this could be for Alpha ES or another sat.https://twitter.com/nicolas_pillet/status/1531612764917080066
Another "Olimp" on Proton was planned.Could there be a connection between Olimp and Ekvator ?
Apparently, he wasn't referring to the geostationary component of the EKS missile early warning system, because in the same interview he said "the third phase of EKS" (most likely the geostationary EKS satellites) was expected to begin in 2022. So it would seem the “high-orbiting space reconnaissance system” is something else. A GSSAP type system would fit the bill.
Four countries interested in building Iran's National Communication SatelliteAccording to Iran’s Communications and Information Technology Minister Mahmoud Vaezi, satellite manufacturers from four countries have expressed interest in building Iran’s National Communication Satellite (NCS). The announcement by Minister Vaezi came after he revealed that a contract had been signed with an unnamed Russian satellite manufacturer for Tehran’s National Remote Sensing Satellite (NRSS).While Minister Vaezi and the Iranian media have not named the companies interested in building the NCS, Minister Vaezi did say that the companies in question come from China, France, Russia, and South Korea.“The construction of the two operational satellites is a long-term project and currently, we are in talks with four countries for our communications satellite,” said Vaezi, referring to both the NRSS and the NCS respectively.“France, Russia, China and South Korea have expressed their interest in participating in the project. We will come to a final decision with one of these four countries and execute the construction of National Communications Satellite Project as one of the objectives of the Sixth Development Plan,” added Vaezi.
Iran Space Agency Applies for Five Geostationary Orbital Slots for Ka- and Ku-Band Communications SatellitesThe Iran Space Agency (ISA) announced on March 1, 2017, that it had applied to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for five geostationary (GEO) orbital slots for Ka- and Ku-band communications satellites.The announcement was made on the ISA website, and provided no details about when it expects to fill the orbital slots it has applied for, and with which particular satellites.Under ITU rules, Iran has a limited time period to place satellites in orbital slots allocated to it otherwise it will lose them and will have to reapply for other orbital slots. Iran has previously applied to the ITU for orbital slots but has not placed satellites in them within the allotted time period.The ISA announcement did say, however, that it is in extensive discussions with the ITU about the orbital slots, and is also engaged with other countries about frequency coordination.Iran is at the start of a communications satellite procurement process, and it is understood that companies from China, France, Russia, and South Korea have expressed interest in bidding on the project, called the National Communications Satellite (NCS).
Iran plans to send satellite into Geo orbit: ICT ministerMinister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said on Monday the country is planning to purchase a satellite to place it into the geostationary orbit.Jahromi added that the private sector is serious in gaining the necessary permits for buying the satellite with “international cooperation" and sending it into the geo orbit in which Iran has orbital slots.Noting that the orbital slots in the geo belong to Iran for the next two years, the ICT minister said the country hopes it would be able to orbit the satellite in due time.
AFAIU an RFP from ISS Reshetnev for "Production insurance of spacecraft "Ekvator"" was published"Price: 855 556 000 rubles"(source: cached version of https://tassbiz.ru/postings/purchase_plan/details/purchase_plans_223_17550154)
Iran, Russia sign space cooperation documentThe document was inked on the sidelines of Iran Airshow 2022 in Kish Island, southern Iran, in presence of the heads of space agencies of both Iran and Russia.Speaking at the signing ceremony, Head of the Iranian Space Agency Hassan Salariyeh said that the document included cooperation on a wide range of issues, including the construction of remote-sensing and communication satellites, creating laboratory infrastructure, assembling, launching bases and satellite tests. He said that this agreement came as a result of months of negotiations with the Russian Space Agency with the aim of enhancement of communications in both Iran and Russia.Noting that Iran began its space industry 20 years ago, Salariyeh said that the country has now achieved significant achievements.He believed that the agreement could help Iran reach the goals of its 10-year vision plan in space industry in a more speedy way. Russian Space Agency chief Yury Borisov said for his part that Iran is not a new ally for Russia and the two countries have been cooperating on space industry since 2002.He said that Iran’s plans to develop its space industry covers all space areas and Russia will help Iran in this regard....
According to the MIIGAiK report, Ekvator is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2024.
Any new news?