Moscow: The first new-generation
satellite Glonass-K of the GLONASS navigation system is
successfully put into the planned orbit.
The Soyuz rocket, which was launched from Plesetsk
cosmodrome at 06:07 Moscow time yesterday, with the Fregat
booster at 09:39 Moscow time successfully delivered the
satellite to the orbit. The Glonass-K separated
as planned. Telemetric contact with the satellite is
maintained. Its onboard systems are functioning as normal, the
Space Troops` spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin told Itar-Tass.
The satellite will work in the 19,100-km-altitude and
64.3-degree-inclination orbit.
It is a new third-generation satellite of the GLONASS
system. It differs from the previous Glonass-M generation --
it is expected to work for ten years (but not 5-7 as a
Glonass-M), it weighs less -- 935 kilogrammes instead of 1,415
and its navigation system is more reliable with the third
frequency of L-band. Besides it has equipment of the
international search and rescue system COSPAS-SARTAR.
It was the first launch of a Glonass satellite from
Plesetsk cosmodrome and with a Soyuz rocket (earlier all the
satellites of the system were carried by Protons from
Baikonur).
According to the Machine-Building Central Scientific
Research Institute, as of February 25, there were 26
satellites in the GLONASS orbital group. Twenty two of them
are used, and four are put out of operation for technical
maintenance. For a GLONASS navigation signal to be received
continuously all over Russia`s territory, at least 18 working
satellites are needed, and 24 on the global scale.
The civil purpose of the GLONASS system is to form a
continuous navigation signal to highly accurately determine
coordinates and speed of movement of any objects equipped with
the receivers. The system is also used to carry out tasks to
ensure Russia`s security.
PTI
