Meridian 1
Meridian 1, also known as Meridian No.11L, was a Russian communications satellite. It was the first satellite to be launched as part of the Meridian system, which will replace the older Molniya series.
Meridian 1 was the first Russian Government satellite to be launched by a Soyuz-2 rocket. The Soyuz-2.1a configuration was used, along with a Fregat upper stage. The launch occurred from Site 43/4 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 08:34:44 GMT on 24 December 2006.
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. It operates in a Molniya orbit with a perigee of, an apogee of, and 65° inclination.
The satellite entered service on 1 February 2007. By May 2009 it had failed. NPO-PM reported that an impact with a piece of debris had caused the spacecraft to malfunction.
