Russia to launch new generation GLONASS satellite

MOSCOW, February 24 (Itar-Tass) - A Soyuz booster rocket with the
first new generation GLONASS satellite will soar aloft from the Plesetsk
cosmodrome on Thursday.
"The launch of the medium-class Soyuz 2.1b booster rocket with the
Fregat acceleration unit and a new generation GLONASS-K spacecraft is
scheduled for 06:15, Moscow time," a Space Troops official told Itar-Tass.
The purpose of the upcoming launch is to boost the orbiting cluster of
GLONASS units. It will be the first launch of the GLONASS satellite this
year.
Earlier, aerospace officials told Tass that "it the first time a
GLONASS satellite will be launched from Plesetsk."
"Earlier, all units of this system were taken to orbit from Baikonur.
It is the first time a Soyuz booster rocket will be used. Previously, all
satellites were orbited by the Proton booster, capable of soaring aloft
with three such spacecraft. It is the first time a new generation
satellite which has advantages over the previous models, will be deployed
in orbit," the aerospace official said.
GLONASS-K is the first Russian-made non-hermetically-sealed navigation
satellite, with a 10-year service life. It masses 935 kilograms (the older
model's weight reaches 1,415 kilograms) and boasts better navigational
sighting as it has a third frequency in L-band. Also, it carries equipment
of the international KOSPAS-SARSAT search and rescue system.
The Reshetnev holding has been developing it with the scope of the
federal program "Global Navigation System." The operation of CLONASS-K
unit will cut expenses to maintain the full cluster of 24 units, and
improve the accuracy of positioning data to several decimeters (versus the
current six meters).
According to the Central Research Institute of Machine Building, there
are 26 satellites in the GLONASS system as of now, of which 20 are in
dedicated use, two are in reserve and four are out of operation for
maintenance.
Russia suspended the launches of the Proton boosters after the
abortive launch of three GLONASS-M satellites last December.
The Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) is based on a
constellation of active satellites which continuously transmit coded
signals in two frequency bands, which can be received by users anywhere on
the Earth's surface to identify their position and velocity in real time
based on ranging measurements. The system rivals the United States' Global
Positioning System (GPS) and both systems share the same principles in the
data transmission and positioning methods.
Russia began to develop GLONASS in 1976, with a goal of global
coverage by 1991. The system was completed 1995 but quickly deteriorated
after the collapse of the Soviet economy. In 2001, Russia stated its
commitment to rebuild the system.
A fully operational GLONASS system needs 24 satellites.