# Ekran 1
**Wikidata**: [Q16943299](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16943299)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ekran-1

## Summary
Ekran 1 was the first satellite in the Ekran series, launched by the Soviet Union on October 26, 1976. It was a geostationary communications satellite designed to provide television broadcasting coverage to remote areas of the Soviet Union.

## Key Facts
- Ekran 1 was launched on October 26, 1976 from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24
- The satellite used a Proton-K carrier rocket with a Blok-DM space tug
- It has the Soviet Catalog Number (SCN) 09503 and COSPAR ID 1976-107A
- Ekran 1 was an instance of the Ekran class of geostationary satellites
- It was developed by the Soviet Union for television broadcasting purposes
- The satellite has 1 sitelink available in the Portuguese Wikipedia
- It is represented in Google Knowledge Graph with ID /g/1q5brjdl6
- In Wolfram Language, it's identified as Entity["Satellite", "09503"]

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Ekran 1?
A: Ekran 1 was designed to provide television broadcasting coverage to remote areas of the Soviet Union. As a geostationary satellite, it remained fixed in position relative to the Earth's surface, enabling consistent broadcasting coverage.

### Q: What launch system was used for Ekran 1?
A: Ekran 1 was launched using a Proton-K carrier rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24. The Proton-K was a Russian, previously Soviet, carrier rocket commonly used for heavy satellite launches.

### Q: How does Ekran 1 compare to other Ekran satellites?
A: As the first satellite in the Ekran series, Ekran 1 established the foundational design and operational parameters for subsequent Ekran satellites. While specific operational details aren't provided, it likely served as the prototype for the entire series.

### Q: What makes Ekran 1 significant in space communications history?
A: Ekran 1 represents an early example of dedicated satellite television broadcasting systems, predating many Western equivalents. It demonstrates the Soviet Union's capabilities in geostationary satellite technology and its focus on domestic communications infrastructure.

## Why It Matters
Ekran 1 holds significance as a pioneering Soviet communications satellite that addressed the practical challenge of providing television broadcasting to remote regions of the vast Soviet territory. As the first in the Ekran series, it established a template for subsequent satellites that would continue this mission for years. The satellite's launch on October 26, 1976 marked an important milestone in Soviet space technology development, showcasing their capability to deploy geostationary satellites using the Proton-K rocket system. This satellite program likely had substantial impact on Soviet domestic communications infrastructure and possibly influenced similar developments in other countries.

## Notable For
- First satellite in the Ekran series of geostationary communications satellites
- One of the earliest Soviet dedicated television broadcasting satellites
- Launched using the Proton-K rocket system with Blok-DM space tug from Baikonur Cosmodrome
- Featured unique Soviet Catalog Number (SCN) 09503 for identification
- Part of a class of satellites specifically designed for domestic Soviet communications coverage

## Body
### Basic Information
Ekran 1 (SCN: 09503, COSPAR ID: 1976-107A) was a Soviet geostationary communications satellite launched on October 26, 1976. As the first satellite in the Ekran series, it was designed to provide television broadcasting coverage to remote areas of the Soviet Union.

### Launch Details
The satellite was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24 using a Proton-K carrier rocket equipped with a Blok-DM space tug. This launch vehicle combination was a standard Soviet heavy-lift system for geostationary orbit missions.

### Technical Classification
Ekran 1 belongs to the Ekran class of satellites, which were geostationary communications satellites operated by the Soviet Union. The satellite was part of a broader Soviet space program focused on domestic communications infrastructure.

### Digital Presence
Ekran 1 has limited digital presence with only 1 sitelink available, primarily in Portuguese Wikipedia. It is also referenced in Google Knowledge Graph with ID /g/1q5brjdl6 and is represented in Wolfram Language as Entity["Satellite", "09503"].

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report