Russia to put three Glonass satellites into orbit on December 25

Russia will put into orbit three Glonass navigation satellites on December 25 from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, Russia’s space agency said recently.

Glonass – the Global Navigation Satellite System – is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few meters.

According to the Central Research Institute for Machine Building, the Glonass system currently consists of 19 satellites, of which 16 are operational, two are undergoing maintenance, and one is one due to be withdrawn.

The Glonass system requires 18 satellites for continuous navigation services covering the entire territory of the Russian Federation, and 24 satellites to provide services worldwide.

Roscosmos chief Anatoly Perminov said in September that the number of satellites in the Glonass network would be increased to 30 by 2011.

Source: RIA Novosti