Meridian 3

Meridian 3 (Russian: Меридиан-3), also known as Meridian No.13L, was a Russian communications satellite. It was the third satellite to be launched as part of the Meridian system to replace the older Molniya series.

Meridian 3

Mission type	Communications
Operator	VKS
COSPAR ID	2010-058A
SATCAT no.	37212
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	ISS Reshetnev
Start of mission
Launch date	02 November 2010 (2010-11-02)
Rocket	Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat-M
Launch site	Plesetsk 43/4
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Molniya
Semi-major axis	26,556 kilometres (16,501 mi)
Eccentricity	0.6782
Perigee altitude	2,165 kilometres (1,345 mi)
Apogee altitude	38,191 kilometres (23,731 mi)
Inclination	62.83 degrees
Period	717 minutes
Epoch	27 July 2014

Meridian 3 was launched by a Soyuz-2 rocket. The Soyuz-2.1a configuration was used, along with a Fregat-M upper stage. The launch occurred from Site 43/4 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 00:58:39 GMT on 2 November 2010.^[1]

It was constructed by ISS Reshetnev and is believed to be based on the Uragan-M satellite bus,^[2] which has also been used for GLONASS navigation satellites. It operates in a Molniya orbit with a perigee of 900 kilometres (560 mi), an apogee of 39,000 kilometres (24,000 mi), and 65° inclination.^[2]