THE FIRST RUSSIAN procurement, of US equipment for a communications satellite, has been completed by Gasprom, Russias' natural gas monopoly company and NPO Energia.
Space Systems/Loral will supply the communications payload and associated equipment for two Russian Yamal satellites to be launched in 1997.
The 1,300kg geostationary satellites will be used by Gasprom to communicate with 1.5m- and 2.5m-diameter dishes at its gas fields, particularly in Siberia.
Source: Flight International