# Ekran 3
**Wikidata**: [Q16943297](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16943297)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ekran-3

## Summary
Ekran 3 was a Soviet geostationary satellite launched on February 21, 1979. As part of the Ekran class of satellites, it was deployed into orbit using a Proton-K carrier rocket equipped with a Blok-DM space tug. The launch originated from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of the Ekran class of geostationary satellites.
- **Launch Date:** February 21, 1979.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Proton-K carrier rocket.
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1979-015A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 11273.
- **Space Tug:** Blok-DM.
- **Operator:** Soviet Union.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Ekran 3 launched?
A: Ekran 3 was launched on February 21, 1979.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Ekran 3?
A: The satellite was launched using a Proton-K carrier rocket, which was a Russian/Soviet heavy-lift launch vehicle.

### Q: What kind of satellite was Ekran 3?
A: Ekran 3 was a geostationary satellite belonging to the Ekran class, identified by the international designator COSPAR ID 1979-015A.

## Why It Matters
Ekran 3 serves as a historical data point in the timeline of Soviet space exploration, specifically regarding the deployment of geostationary satellites. Utilized by the Soviet Union, this mission highlights the operational use of the Proton-K rocket and the Blok-DM space tug system during the late 1970s. The mission demonstrates the technical capabilities of the era to execute launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200. As an entity within the broader Ekran program, it contributes to the statistical record of satellites cataloged under the international identifier 1979-015A and Satellite Catalog Number 11273.

## Notable For
- Being an instance of the **Ekran** series of geostationary satellites.
- Utilizing the **Proton-K** launch vehicle combined with a **Blok-DM** space tug.
- Launching from the specific **Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200** facility.
- Operating under the unique international designator **1979-015A**.

## Body

### Mission Profile
Ekran 3 was launched on February 21, 1979, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch site utilized was Site 200, a specific launch complex used for heavy payloads. The mission is formally recorded as a "rocket launch" significant event.

### Technical Specifications
The satellite is classified as an instance of "Ekran," a type of geostationary satellite developed within the Soviet Union.
*   **Space Tug:** The deployment involved a Blok-DM upper stage (space tug) to facilitate the satellite's journey to its intended orbit.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** The Proton-K, a Russian (formerly Soviet) carrier rocket, served as the launch vehicle. This rocket is noted for its extensive use in the Soviet space program.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
Ekran 3 is tracked and referenced through several international and academic identifiers:
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1979-015A
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 11273
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/1q5bw1syk
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "11273"]

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report