# Ekran

> geostationary satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q877664](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q877664)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekran)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ekran

## Summary
Ekran is a series of geostationary communications satellites developed by the Soviet Union for direct-to-home television broadcasting. The first Ekran satellite was launched on October 26, 1976, marking the beginning of the Soviet Union's direct broadcast satellite television system.

## Key Facts
- First launched on October 26, 1976, as part of the Soviet Union's direct broadcast television system
- Classified as a geostationary communications satellite
- Native label in Russian: Экран
- Part of a series that includes at least 18 numbered satellites (Ekran 1 through Ekran 18)
- Designed for direct-to-home television broadcasting
- Wikipedia available in 10 languages: bg, cs, de, en, fi, fr, gl, he, hu, nl
- Has a Wikidata description as a "geostationary satellite"
- Associated with the image: 1981. Система спутникового телевидения Экран.jpg

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Ekran satellites?
A: The Ekran satellites were designed for direct-to-home television broadcasting, allowing Soviet citizens to receive television signals directly via satellite without traditional terrestrial infrastructure.

### Q: How many Ekran satellites were launched?
A: At least 18 numbered Ekran satellites were launched (Ekran 1 through Ekran 18), plus additional variants like Ekran 13L.

### Q: When was the first Ekran satellite launched?
A: The first Ekran satellite was launched on October 26, 1976, marking the beginning of the Soviet Union's direct broadcast satellite television system.

## Why It Matters
The Ekran satellite system represented a significant technological achievement in the Soviet Union's space and communications capabilities during the Cold War era. As one of the earliest direct broadcast satellite television systems, Ekran enabled mass distribution of television content to remote and rural areas that lacked traditional broadcasting infrastructure. This system played a crucial role in the Soviet Union's media strategy, helping to unify the vast nation through shared television programming and information dissemination. The technology pioneered by Ekran influenced later direct broadcast satellite systems worldwide and demonstrated the Soviet Union's ability to compete with Western nations in space-based communications technology.

## Notable For
- First Soviet direct broadcast satellite television system
- Enabled television access to remote areas without terrestrial infrastructure
- Part of a large series with at least 18 numbered satellites
- Operated during the height of the Cold War space race
- Pioneered geostationary satellite technology for mass media distribution

## Body
### Development and Purpose
The Ekran satellite system was developed by the Soviet Union as part of its space and communications program. The primary purpose was to provide direct-to-home television broadcasting capabilities across the vast Soviet territory, reaching areas that traditional terrestrial broadcasting could not effectively serve.

### Technical Specifications
As geostationary communications satellites, the Ekran satellites maintained fixed positions relative to Earth's surface, allowing consistent signal coverage to specific geographic areas. The system was designed to operate in the C-band frequency range, which was suitable for the television broadcasting requirements of the time.

### Operational History
The first Ekran satellite entered service on October 26, 1976, with subsequent satellites launched throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. The series continued with numbered satellites (Ekran 1-18) and variants like Ekran 13L, indicating an ongoing program of satellite replacement and technology improvement.

### Cultural Impact
The Ekran system played a significant role in Soviet media distribution, helping to standardize television content across the diverse Soviet republics. This technology enabled the central government to broadcast programming to citizens regardless of their geographic location, contributing to national cohesion through shared media experiences.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Ekran",
  "description": "Series of geostationary communications satellites developed by the Soviet Union for direct-to-home television broadcasting",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekran",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15241312"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Communications Satellite"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013