Ekran Satellite Bus

Data current as of 2026-07-20.

The Ekran bus accounts for 22 cataloged objects, of which 21 are in orbit and 0 are active. 1 have reentered. Most are built by NPOPM. The largest operator on this bus is MSVYAZ. The first launched in 1976, the most recent in 2001.

21
In orbit
0
Active
22
Total launched
1
Reentered

Ekran launched per year

1 2 3 1976: 1 object launched 1977: 1 object launched 1978: 0 objects launched 1979: 2 objects launched 1980: 2 objects launched 1981: 1 object launched 1982: 2 objects launched 1983: 2 objects launched 1984: 2 objects launched 1985: 1 object launched 1986: 1 object launched 1987: 3 launched, 1 since reentered 1988: 2 objects launched 1989: 0 objects launched 1990: 0 objects launched 1991: 0 objects launched 1992: 1 object launched 1993: 0 objects launched 1994: 0 objects launched 1995: 0 objects launched 1996: 0 objects launched 1997: 0 objects launched 1998: 0 objects launched 1999: 0 objects launched 2000: 0 objects launched 2001: 1 object launched 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001
Still in orbit Since reentered Click a year to list its satellites.

Typical specifications

Most common values across cataloged Ekran satellites.

Manufacturer NPOPM
Purpose Communication, direct broadcasting
Launch mass 2000 kg
Dry mass 1850 kg
Length 5.5 m
Diameter 2.5 m
Span 9 m
Shape Cyl + 2 Pan + Plate
Power 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries
Design life 3 years
Equipment 1 (+1) UHF 200 W transponder, C-band uplink
Typical orbit 1437 min period, 6° inclination

Top operators

MSVYAZ 20 GPKS 2

Top countries

SU 20 RU 2

Ekran satellites

Track any of them live in KeepTrack.

Name NORAD COSPAR Owner Launched Orbit Status Track
EKRAN 21 Ekran-M 26736 2001-014A GPKS Apr 7, 2001 1446 min, 14.7° Inactive
EKRAN 20 Ekran-M 22210 1992-074A GPKS Oct 30, 1992 1435 min, 13.7° Inactive
EKRAN 19 Ekran-M 19683 1988-108A MSVYAZ Dec 10, 1988 1490 min, 13.5° Inactive
EKRAN 18 Ekran 19090 1988-036A MSVYAZ May 6, 1988 1513 min, 13.3° Inactive
EKRAN 17 Ekran-M 18715 1987-109A MSVYAZ Dec 27, 1987 1502 min, 13.4° Inactive
EKRAN 16 Ekran 18328 1987-073A MSVYAZ Sep 3, 1987 1492 min, 12.2° Inactive
COSMOS 1817 Kosmos-1817 17365 1987-010A MSVYAZ Jan 30, 1987 87 min, 51.6° Reentered
EKRAN 15 Ekran 16729 1986-038A MSVYAZ May 24, 1986 1492 min, 11.4° Inactive
EKRAN 14 Ekran 15626 1985-024A MSVYAZ Mar 22, 1985 1519 min, 11.9° Inactive
EKRAN 13 Ekran 15219 1984-090A MSVYAZ Aug 24, 1984 1500 min, 10.8° Inactive
EKRAN 12 Ekran 14821 1984-028A MSVYAZ Mar 16, 1984 1499 min, 10.2° Inactive
EKRAN 11 Ekran 14377 1983-100A MSVYAZ Sep 29, 1983 1436 min, 7.7° Inactive
EKRAN 10 Ekran 13878 1983-016A MSVYAZ Mar 12, 1983 1515 min, 10.3° Inactive
EKRAN 9 Ekran 13554 1982-093A MSVYAZ Sep 16, 1982 1437 min, 7.0° Inactive
EKRAN 8 Ekran 13056 1982-009A MSVYAZ Feb 5, 1982 1441 min, 7.0° Inactive
EKRAN 7 Ekran 12564 1981-061A MSVYAZ Jun 26, 1981 1437 min, 6.5° Inactive
EKRAN 6 Ekran 12120 1980-104A MSVYAZ Dec 26, 1980 1436 min, 6.2° Inactive
EKRAN 5 Ekran 11890 1980-060A MSVYAZ Jul 15, 1980 1437 min, 11.3° Inactive
EKRAN 4 Ekran 11561 1979-087A MSVYAZ Oct 3, 1979 1436 min, 5.5° Inactive
EKRAN 3 Ekran 11273 1979-015A MSVYAZ Feb 21, 1979 1435 min, 5.0° Inactive
EKRAN 2 Ekran 10365 1977-092A MSVYAZ Sep 20, 1977 1437 min, 4.2° Inactive
EKRAN 1 Ekran 09503 1976-107A MSVYAZ Oct 26, 1976 1437 min, 3.5° Inactive

Frequently asked questions

How many Ekran satellites are there?

The catalog lists 22 objects built on the Ekran bus. 21 are in orbit and 1 have reentered.

How many Ekran satellites are in orbit?

21 Ekran objects are currently in orbit, of which 0 carry an active status.

Who builds the Ekran bus?

The Ekran bus is most commonly built by NPOPM.

When did the first Ekran satellite launch?

The first cataloged Ekran satellite launched in 1976, and the most recent in 2001.

Satellite data compiled by KeepTrack from CelesTrak, Space-Track, and GCAT, provided under CC BY-NC 4.0.