Kupon Credit: Dmitry Pieson. 60,185 bytes. 620 x 351 pixels.

Kupon was originally developed by Lavochkin for the third generation GKKRS (Global Space Command and Communications System). Other satellites in the network included Potok and Geizer. This was a new technical area for Lavochkin, which previously dealt with planetary probes and early warning satellites. The project was cancelled with the breakup of the Soviet Union, and instead Kupon became the first communications satellite for the Russian banking system. The satellite was owned by the Russian Federation Central Bank (and possibly Global Information Systems of Moscow) and relayed financial data for the Bankir network.

Geosynchronous. Kupon is the first communications satellite for the Russian banking system, and the first commercial communications satellite sold by the Lavochkin, who have in the past been more commonly associated with planetary probes and early warning satellites. Kupon, owned by the Russian Federation Central Bank (and possibly Global Information Systems of Moscow), relays financial data for the Bankir network.

• 4 - McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Report (Internet Newsletter), Harvard University, Weekly, 1989 to Present. HTML when accessed: ftp://sao-ftp.harvard.edu/pub/jcm/space/news
• 450 - Frolov, I, Kosmodrom, "Kratkiy istoricheskiy obzor sovietskikh (rossiyskikh) voennikh sredstv", No. 8, 1999, p. 21..