Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat - Glonass-K2 #13 blok K3s - Plesetsk - August 7 2023 13:19:25 UTC

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1688676928814043139

CelesTrak has GP data for 2 objects from the launch (2023-114) of COSMOS 2570, a GLONASS-K2 navigation satellite, atop a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome on Aug 7 at 1320 UTC: tass.com/science/1657613. Data for the launch can be found at: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/table.php?INTDES=2023-114

It is noticeable that this time the Fregat did not increase its orbit as usual after the separation.
For comparison Glonass-M 761 launch.
https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/table.php?INTDES=2022-161

[GWR64]

Glonass-K 703 is slowly moving towards slot 8. (it is also listed on the position)
On slot 8 is Glonass-M 743, launch in November 2011, was first on slot 2 as a reserve and moved to slot 8,
after another Glonass-M broke. that's another story
Glonass-M 743 still works well as far as I can tell from the outside. There are certainly worse in the group.
It doesn't look to me that Glonass 703 should go into operation in a certain time.
He will be tested for a long time, but is there any use? This satellite is unique.
Future Glonass-K2 will be built differently.

[lunatikm]

Can anyone tell me more about the decoration on the Soyuz 2.1b rocket? Unfortunately, you can not see much in the photos I have. Who is it on the poster?
Does anyone have a better photo?

[SnowyOwl]

The banner 'clearly' reads "80 лет СМЕРШ" == 'SMERSH 80th anniversary'

Video https://mil.ru/video/070823Пуск - Плесецк.mp4

[B. Hendrickx]

SMERSH was a Soviet military counterintelligence organization during World War II.

From Wikipedia:

SMERSH (Russian: СМЕРШ) was an umbrella organization for three independent counter-intelligence agencies in the Red Army formed in late 1942 or even earlier, but officially announced only on 14 April 1943. The name SMERSH was coined by Joseph Stalin. The formal justification for its creation was to subvert the attempts by Nazi German forces to infiltrate the Red Army on the Eastern Front.[3][4]

The official statute of SMERSH listed the following tasks to be performed by the organisation: counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, preventing any other activity of foreign intelligence in the Red Army; fighting "anti-Soviet elements" in the Red Army; protection of the front lines against penetration by spies and "anti-Soviet elements"; investigating traitors, deserters, and self-inflicted wounds in the Red Army; and checking military and civil personnel returning from captivity.

The organisation was officially in existence until 4 May 1946,[1][2] when its duties were transferred back to the MGB.[5] The head of the agency throughout its existence was Viktor Abakumov, who rose to become Minister of State Security in the postwar years.

Attached is a picture of Abakumov. Not sure though if that is the person seen on the rocket. He looks different. Also, from what I can see, the name under the portrait is not his.

[SnowyOwl]

Attached is a picture of Abakumov. Not sure though if that is the person seen on the rocket. He looks different. Also, from what I can see, the name under the portrait is not his.

Definitely it's not him, nor his name.

Military rank on the first line is probably "полковник" (== colonel). If so, it is consistent with three stars on the shoulder straps.

The given name has four letters. Иван, Петр, Юрий?

The patronym is long, like 'Владимирович'(?)

One possible guess is Леонов Иван Яковлевич (Leonov Ivan Yakovlevich). He served on the Karelian front -- this area includes future Plesetsk site, so he may be considered a local veteran. But he had a rank of captain during WWII.

[lunatikm]

Thank you very much for your efforts! That already helps me a little.

[lunatikm]

Really close!
Finally I found this website.

http://vkr-veteran.com/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F/_%D0%A1%D0%9C%D0%95%D0%A0%D0%A8__%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%8F%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%B2%D1%8B%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5_1474

Have a look at the videao at 0:20 sec.

Colonel Leonov, Ivan Nikolaevich, the first head of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome who went through the entire Great Patriotic War in the military counterintelligence agencies, including the legendary "SMERSH".

[SnowyOwl]

Finally I found this website.

Colonel Leonov, Ivan Nikolaevich, the first head of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome who went through the entire Great Patriotic War in the military counterintelligence agencies, including the legendary "SMERSH".

Nice catch indeed!

He had been the first Head of Security/Counterintelligence of the cosmodrome.

No public photos in open sources. Single mention: ranked captain in 1945, full text has been removed from the open archive.

[B. Hendrickx]

He's mentioned just once in a voluminous Plesetsk history published in 2007.
http://epizodyspace.ru/bibl/severn-kosm-ross/02.html
Head of a special KGB division established at Plesetsk on May 10, 1958.

[GWR64]

Glonass-M 747 on slot 2 in plane 1 stopped transmitting on November 13th.
That would be a potential task for Glonass-K 703, 2 slots away.
But it is not yet certain whether 747 is permanently defective.

[GWR64]

Glonass-K 703 has now gone into operation.
As replacement for Glonass-M 733 on slot 6, which is now in reserve.
However, Glonass-K 703 is still near Glonass-M 743 on slot 8.
Neither 703 nor 733 have currently changed their actual position in the constellation, as far as I can see.

3 somewhat confusing NAGUs on this:

005-250122
NOTICE ADVISORY TO GLONASS USERS (NAGU) 005-250122
SUBJ:06/-4 (733) CHANGE ORBITAL POSITION OF SC
1.CONDITION: 21.01.25/1210 06/-4 КА 733 APPARATUS TRANSFER
FROM ORBITAL POSITION 6 TO POSITION 26
2.USERS ARE REMINDED TO UPDATE ALMANACS IF NECESSARY


006-250122
NOTICE ADVISORY TO GLONASS USERS (NAGU) 006-250122
SUBJ:26/-4 (733) IS TRANSFERRED TO ORBITAL RESERVE
1.CONDITION: 26/-4 SC 733 IS TRANSFERRED TO ORBITAL RESERVE 21.01.25/2039
2.USERS ARE REMINDED TO UPDATE ALMANACS IF NECESSARY


007-250122
NOTICE ADVISORY TO GLONASS USERS (NAGU) 007-250122
SUBJ:06/-6 (703) PUT INTO OPERATION 21.01.25/2039
1.CONDITION: 06/-6 (703)  PUT INTO OPERATION 21.01.25/2039 MSK (UTC+0300)
2.USERS ARE REMINDED TO UPDATE ALMANACS IF NECESSARY

[GWR64]

Command back, doesn't work, or what?
The Glonass constellation page shows Glonass-M 733 again as operational satellite no. 6 on slot 6 channel -4.
(only L1 signal since ? years)
Glonass-K 703 is now back under "In flight tests phase" without a commissioning date. As if nothing had happened.

https://glonass-iac.ru/en/sostavOG/

There is currently only this NAGU.


update 2/2/2025, 3 NAGUs:

009-250201
NOTICE ADVISORY TO GLONASS USERS (NAGU) 009-250201
SUBJ:06/-6 (703) CHANGE ORBITAL POSITION OF SC
1.CONDITION: 01.02.25/0906 06/-6 КА 703 APPARATUS TRANSFER
FROM ORBITAL POSITION 6 TO POSITION 26
2.USERS ARE REMINDED TO UPDATE ALMANACS IF NECESSARY


010-250201
NOTICE ADVISORY TO GLONASS USERS (NAGU) 010-250201
SUBJ:06/-6 (703) IS TRANSFERRED TO ORBITAL RESERVE
1.CONDITION: 06/-6 SC 703 IS TRANSFERRED TO ORBITAL RESERVE 01.02.25/0906
2.USERS ARE REMINDED TO UPDATE ALMANACS IF NECESSARY


011-250201
NOTICE ADVISORY TO GLONASS USERS (NAGU) 011-250201
SUBJ:06/-4 (733) PUT INTO OPERATION 01.02.25/0906
1.CONDITION: 06/-4 (733)  PUT INTO OPERATION 01.02.25/0906 MSK (UTC+0300)
2.USERS ARE REMINDED TO UPDATE ALMANACS IF NECESSARY

[GWR64]

Glonass-M 747 on slot 2 in plane 1 stopped transmitting on November 13th.
That would be a potential task for Glonass-K 703, 2 slots away.
But it is not yet certain whether 747 is permanently defective.

Almost exactly one year after the last blackout, 747 has again experienced an unplanned outage.

060-251111
NOTICE ADVISORY TO GLONASS USERS (NAGU) 060-251111
SUBJ:02/-4 (747) UNUSABLE 10.11.25/1338
1.CONDITION: 02/-4 SC (747) WAS UNUSABLE
SINCE 10.11.25/1338 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
MSK (UTC+0300) DUE TO MAINTENANCE
2.USERS ARE REMINDED TO UPDATE ALMANACS IF NECESSARY

Although Glonass-K2 703 (slot 08) and 704 (slot 06) are both officially designated as orbital reserve, there are no signs of movement in plane 1.
Furthermore, 733 (slot 06) and since this year, also 730 (slot 01) are transmitting only L1 signals. (3 more in planes 2 and 3)
They are obviously trying to keep the old Glonass M alive as long as possible.