Russia’s space forces had an easier time of it bringing the latest set of GLONASS-M satellites on line within just over a month after launch.
As of December 6, the GLONASS constellation had 15 operational satellites, two of which are not broadcasting signals during maintenance. The next launch of three modernized GLONASS space vehicles is scheduled for December 25.
Russia’s space forces had an easier time of it bringing the latest set of GLONASS-M satellites on line within just over a month after launch.
As of December 6, the GLONASS constellation had 15 operational satellites, two of which are not broadcasting signals during maintenance. The next launch of three modernized GLONASS space vehicles is scheduled for December 25.
All three GLONASS spacecraft put into orbit on October 26 have now been declared operational (set healthy), according to the Russian Space Agency’s Information-Analytical Center. Due to technical difficulties, the last of the three previous satellites launched December 25, 2006, was not declared operational until October 10 this year.
Russia is spending 9.9 billion rubles in 2007 on GLONASS with the target of having 18 operational satellites in orbit by the end of this year, and 24 operational satellites by 2009.
