July 30, 2019 5:57 am

Meridian-M No.18

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Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
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July 30, 2019 5:57 am

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Last Updated:

2026-07-11 19:31:12

The Meridian series of communications satellites is reported to be the replacement for all the Molniya-1T, the Molniya-3 and Molniya-3K satellite series and possibly also for the communication component of the Parus. They are launched into highly eccentric Molniya-orbits. Meridian is the highly eccentric orbit (HEO) component of the Integrated Satellite Communications System (ISSS), where they work in conjunction with the geostationary Raduga-1M (Globus-M) satellites. The bus structure is reportedly pressurized, possibly based on the Uragan-M bus. Meridian satellites carry three transponders operating in different frequency bands.
Launch Overview
Window Open 05:00 UTC
Window Close 08:00 UTC
Lift Off Jul 30, 2019 · 05:57 UTC
Launch Facility Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Launch Pad 43/4 (43R)
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer Russian Space Forces
Payload Meridian-M No.18
Rocket Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
The Meridian series of communications satellites is reported to be the replacement for all the Molniya-1T, the Molniya-3 and Molniya-3K satellite series and possibly also for the communication component of the Parus. They are launched into highly eccentric Molniya-orbits. Meridian is the highly eccentric orbit (HEO) component of the Integrated Satellite Communications System (ISSS), where they work in conjunction with the geostationary Raduga-1M (Globus-M) satellites. The bus structure is reportedly pressurized, possibly based on the Uragan-M bus. Meridian satellites carry three transponders operating in different frequency bands.

Height

LEO Payload

Total Launches

Status

Russian Space Forces
43/4 (43R)
Launch Overview
Window Open 05:00 UTC
Window Close 08:00 UTC
Lift Off Jul 30, 2019 · 05:57 UTC
Launch Facility Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Launch Pad 43/4 (43R)
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer Russian Space Forces
Payload Meridian-M No.18
Rocket Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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