X Report 21 Sep 2025
Key updates include a potential delay for the Starship lunar lander, successful static fire tests for Ship 38, and the latest Starlink satellite launch plans.
EXPRESS-A3 (26378)
COSPAR: 2000-031A | Alt Name: Ekspress 3A
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
June 24, 2000
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC200/39
Launch Vehicle
Proton-K/DM-2M
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
26378
International Designator
2000-031A
Epoch
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 21:30:59 GMT
Apogee
Calculating...
Perigee
Calculating...
Inclination
12.33°
Right Ascension
32.11°
Eccentricity
Calculating...
Argument of Perigee
201.75°
Period
1457.92 min
Mean Motion
0.99 rev/day
Latitude
Calculating...
Longitude
Calculating...
Altitude
Calculating...
Velocity
Calculating...
Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info
Name
EXPRESS-A3
Alternative Name
Ekspress 3A
Type
Payload
Status
Non-operational
Owner
GPKS/ISPUT
Country
Russia
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 26378U 00031A 26184.89651794 -.00000260 00000-0 00000-0 0 9999
2 26378 12.3274 32.1071 0008356 201.7473 166.0912 0.98770700 94395
Source: Celestrak
Summary
The EXPRESS-A3 satellite, also known as Ekspress 3A, was launched on June 24, 2000, from TYMSC LC200/39 using the Proton-K/DM-2M launch vehicle. It has a configuration of MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740) and is owned by GPKS/ISPUT for communication purposes. The satellite's dimensions include a length and diameter of 2 meters, with a span of 27 meters due to its solar arrays. Its dry mass is 2000 kg, and it had a launch mass of 2600 kg. It carries 12 C-transponders and 5 Ku-band transponders for communication. The satellite's power system consists of two deployable solar arrays and batteries. With an expected lifetime of 7 years, EXPRESS-A3 was manufactured by NPOPMR in Russia and is part of the Ekspress series used primarily for communication missions.
Physical Characteristics
Length
2
Diameter
2
Span
27
Dry Mass
2000
Launch Mass
2600
Shape
Cyl + 2 Pan
Radar Cross Section
37.9323
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Ekspress-A No. 3
Purpose
Communication
Mission
Communication
Manufacturer
NPOPMR
Life Expectancy
7 years
Bus
Ekspress
Configuration
MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-740)
Motor
AOCS
Equipment
12 C-transponders, 5 Ku-band transponders
Power System
2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
Satellite Articles
View All Posts »Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
X Report 23 Jan 2025
SpaceX gears up for Starship Flight 8 amidst Starlink's growing presence in global internet markets.
X Report 20 May 2025
SpaceX gears up for new Starlink shell deployment and secures updated licensing for Starship, amidst ongoing preparations for Falcon 9 launches.
X Report 12 Dec 2025
SpaceX makes headlines with record-breaking launch operations, while plans for an IPO signal major changes in the company's trajectory and could inspire industry-wide movements.
X Report 26 Nov 2024
SpaceX sets launch milestones with quick turnarounds and new Starlink deployments, while eyeing rapid Starship expansions next year.
SpaceX Launches CAS500-2 and 44 Rideshares, Space Brief 3 May 2026
SpaceX CAS500-2 launch success: Falcon 9 flew May 3 at 0700 UTC from Vandenberg with South Korea's imaging satellite and 44 rideshare payloads.
Space Brief 4 Nov 2024
China's Tiangong space station completes crew rotation, Rocket Lab prepares for confidential launch, and Japan successfully launches military satellite with its H3 rocket.
ISS Crew Shelters in Dragon During Active Air Leak | KeepTrack X Report
ISS astronauts evacuated to a SpaceX Dragon capsule on June 5 as cosmonauts worked to seal a persistent air leak on the Russian segment.