Russia launches navigation satellite
February 26th, 2011 - 4:28 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, Feb 26 (IANS) Russia has launched a satellite which is part of a network that is its answer to the US Global Positioning System (GPS).The Russian Space Forces successfully launched a new Glonass-K navigation satellite from the Plesetsk space center, a defence ministry spokesman said Saturday.
The previous launch under the Glonass project in December 2010, supposed to conclude the forming of the satellite grouping, was unsuccessful as the rocket veered off course and sank in the Pacific Ocean. The loss cost Russia 2.5 billion rubles ($86 million) in direct damages, RIA Novosti reported.
The Glonass satellite network is Russia’s answer to the US Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian uses. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few metres.
The Glonass-K has a service life of 10 years. The complete grouping must have 24 operational and 2-3 reserve satellites for the Glonass network to operate with global coverage.
Russia currently has 22 Glonass satellites in orbit and will launch three more Glonass-M satellites on board a Proton heavy carrier rocket later this year to complete the satellite network.
- Russia postpones launch of navigation satellite - Dec 22, 2010
- Russia may spend $12 bn on satellite navigation system - Feb 08, 2012
- Russia launches navigation satellite - Oct 03, 2011
- Russia to launch three Glonass satellites Friday - Nov 04, 2011
- Russian satellites crash into Pacific Ocean - Dec 06, 2010
- Two Russian space officials sacked over satellite loss - Dec 29, 2010
- Russia completes deployment of navigation satellites - Oct 08, 2011
- Russia plans three space launches in August - Jul 30, 2011
- Russia to spend $3.8 bn on space programmes in 2011 - Jan 12, 2011
- Russia launches navigation satellites - Sep 02, 2010
- Russia launches European telecom satellite - Dec 27, 2010
- Russia sends two carrier rockets to French Guiana - May 21, 2011
- China plans to launch 30 satellites in 2012 - Jan 18, 2012
- Three Russian Glonass satellites crash into Pacific Ocean - Dec 06, 2010
- China launches competitor to GPS - Apr 12, 2011
Tags: 10 years, damages, defence ministry spokesman, global coverage, global positioning system, glonass satellites, launch, moscow, navigation satellite, novosti, orbit, pacific ocean, proton, rubles, russia, russian space forces, satellite network, space center