Russians in move to rebuild Glonass

TIM FURNISS / LONDON

Improved accuracy and reliability key in latest launches

Russia launched three Glonass satellites aboard a Proton K from Baikonur on 1 December in its efforts to boost functionality of the struggling navigation system.

The launch increases the number of operational Glonass satellites in orbit to nine, with Russia predicting that a fully operational Glonass system of 24 satellites will not be established before 2005.

The three new satellites, designated Cosmos 2380-82, will be fully operational in two weeks after orbit correction, tuning and checks, says Gennady Keselman, deputy general director of NPO PM, the satellite developer. The satellites will be located in their operational circular 19,100km, 64.8í inclination orbits by on-board propulsion systems.

Two of the satellites launched were standard Uragan spacecraft, while the third was experimental, with improved equipment being developed for the Glonass-M series. The new satellite features an in-orbit life of seven years compared with the three-year life of current Glonass satellites, plus greater accuracy and reliability. A third generation satellite, Glonass-K, is under development for launch in 2005.

Glonass had 24 operational satellites in 1995, but the system deteriorated from 1996 to 2000 due to a lack of funding. The last Uragan satellite launch was in October 2000 and it is understood that five of the 11 satellites in orbit at that time have since failed. A further six are due for deployment next year. The latest Glonass programme calls for up to 12 operational satellites by 2003, rising to 18-20 in 2005. NPO PM says the fully operational 24 satellite system is not expected until after 2005.

Following the Glonass launches, the first Zenit launch of a Meteor weather satellite was scheduled to take place on 10 December, with Pakistan's Badr-B, Maroc/Tubsat and Kompas minisatellites. Previous Meteor launches have been made from Plesetsk using Molniya boosters.

Source: Flight International