Article Posted on : - Dec 14, 2009

The GLONASS satellite.

BAIKONUR (BNS): Russia will launch three GLONASS navigation satellites from the Baikonur Space Centre in Kazakhstan on Monday, the federal space agency has announced.

The satellites, to be carried on board a Proton-M rocket, are scheduled to be launched at 13.38 Moscow time, Roscosmos said.

The space agency had targeted to put in orbit a total of six GLONASS satellites by the end of this year.

However, the launch has been rescheduled for February 2010 when the other three satellites would be placed in orbit, thereby completing the GLONASS grouping of 24 satellites required for worldwide navigation services.

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) is an alternative and complementary system to the US’ Global Positioning System, China’s Compass navigation system, and the planned Galileo positioning system of the European Union.

Designed for both military and civilian purposes, GLONASS enables its users to determine their positions within a few meters.

The system requires 18 satellites for continuous navigation services covering the entire Russian Federation, and 24 satellites to provide services across the globe.