Meridian 4

Meridian 4 (Russian: Меридиан-4), also known as Meridian No.14L, is a Russian military communications satellite. It was launched atop a Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in May 2011.

Meridian 4

Mission type	Communications
Operator	VKS (2011) VKO (2012-)
COSPAR ID	2011-018A
SATCAT no.	37398
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	Meridian
Manufacturer	ISS Reshetnev
Start of mission
Launch date	4 May 2011, 17:41:33 (2011-05-04UTC17:41:33Z) UTC[1]
Rocket	Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat
Launch site	Plesetsk 43/4
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Molniya
Perigee altitude	1,418 kilometres (881 mi)
Apogee altitude	38,948 kilometres (24,201 mi)
Inclination	64.39 degrees
Period	717.75 minutes
Epoch	3 July 2014, 23:30:26 UTC[2]

It is the fourth satellite to be launched as part of the Meridian system to replace the older Molniya series. It was constructed by ISS Reshetnev and is believed to be based on the Uragan-M satellite bus, which has also been used for GLONASS navigation satellites.

Meridian satellites are launched into highly elliptical Molniya orbits to provide communications coverage of the Northern Hemisphere for the Russian military.

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• 2011 in spaceflight