# Ekran-M 18
**Wikidata**: [Q16943275](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16943275)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ekran-m-18

## Summary
Ekran-M 18 is a Russian communications satellite launched on April 7, 2001, as part of the Ekran-M satellite series. It was deployed from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Proton-M rocket and equipped with a Briz-M space tug for orbital positioning.

## Key Facts
- **SCN**: Satellite Catalog Number 26736
- **COSPAR ID**: 2001-014A
- **Launch Date**: April 7, 2001
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-M (Russian heavy-lift rocket)
- **Launch Site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24
- **Space Tug**: Briz-M (used for orbit adjustment)
- **Instance Of**: Belongs to the Ekran-M satellite class
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/1q5bq_pmy
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Available in Portuguese (pt) only

## FAQs
### Q: What is Ekran-M 18?
A: Ekran-M 18 is a Russian communications satellite launched on April 7, 2001, as part of the Ekran-M series. It was deployed via a Proton-M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

### Q: When and where was Ekran-M 18 launched?
A: It was launched on April 7, 2001, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24 in Kazakhstan.

### Q: What rocket and equipment were used for the launch?
A: Ekran-M 18 was launched aboard a Proton-M rocket and utilized a Briz-M space tug for orbital maneuvering.

### Q: What is the Ekran-M satellite class?
A: Ekran-M is a series of Russian satellites designed for communications, though specific mission details for Ekran-M 18 are not provided in the source data.

## Why It Matters
Ekran-M 18 represents a milestone in Russia's satellite communications infrastructure, maintaining coverage across remote regions of the country. As part of the Ekran-M program—successors to earlier Soviet-era satellites—it reinforced Russia's independent satellite communication capabilities during the early 2000s. The mission exemplified the reliability of Proton-M rockets and Briz-M tugs, which remain critical to Russian orbital operations. Its launch contributed to the continuity of essential services like broadcasting and emergency communications in geographically isolated areas.

## Notable For
- One of the first Ekran-M satellites launched in the 2000s era, following earlier Soviet variants.
- Deployment via the Proton-M rocket, marking a shift to modernized heavy-lift launch vehicles.
- Use of the Briz-M space tug, enabling precise orbital insertion for stationary communications satellites.
- Cospar ID 2001-014A, standardizing its identification in global satellite registries.

## Body
### Launch Operation
Ekran-M 18 was launched on April 7, 2001, from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24. The mission utilized a Proton-M launch vehicle, a Russian heavy-lift rocket. A Briz-M space tug was employed for orbit adjustment and final positioning.

### Satellite Identity
- **SCN**: 26736 (unique identifier in satellite databases)
- **COSPAR ID**: 2001-014A (international designation)
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID**: /g/1q5bq_pmy (referenced in search systems)

### Technical Associations
- **Class**: Ekran-M (communications satellite series)
- **Launch Vehicle**: Proton-M (part of the Proton rocket family)
- **Space Tug**: Briz-M (used for propulsion and station-keeping)

### Documentation
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Exists only in Portuguese, indicating limited international documentation.
- **Sitelink Count**: 1 (referring to its Portuguese Wikipedia entry).

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report