Proton-M launch with three Glonass-M satellites - September 2, 2010

[Space Pete]

Chairman of the Russian Government Vladimir Putin: "I am Pleased to Say that We have Launched Three More GLONASS Spacecraft Today".

Opening the meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Government on Sept. 2, Chairman of the Russian Government said that he was pleased to inform the Presidium about success of the morning launch of three more spacecraft for GLONASS constellation.
GLONASS currently comprises 21 satellites maintaining nominal operations of the system. The three spacecraft launched on Sept. 2 are to be commissioned on Oct. 17. Two more spacecraft will provide orbital redundancy.
"In the nearest future, three more GLONASS satellites will be launched, and one more in December. Thus, there will be 30 satellites in the constellation, with two as redundant, which are to maintain global coverage", Russian Prime Minister added.
First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government Sergey Ivanov confirmed that 30 GLONASS satellites are to be lofted on Nov. 30. Glonass-K, to fly in December, is a new-generation spacecraft with extended lifetime of 10 years.
Vladimir Putin also stated that the GLONASS signal was stable during his recent ride in Amur region.
Ivanov also explained that proper state of the orbital constellation had been reached, and now ground issues are to be fixed in order to make the system useful for national economy.
Relevant actions were given to various ministries and authorities during the recent meeting chaired by Putin.

Source.

[Space Pete]

Orbital Operations with Glonass-M Satellites.

For three Glonass-M satellites developed by Resehtnev ISS company successfully launched on Sept. 2, orbital tests of their service systems have been completed.
Currently, the satellites undergo adjustment in order to bring them into the targeted orbital positions. This operation has been finished for satellite 36 on Sept 20. The other two, №37 and №38, are to reach their positions by the end of Sept. In 8-10 days, following completions of the payload tests, the satellites are to begin their nominal orbital operations.
Telemetry data from Glonass satellites are acquired in the Control Center in Krasnoznamensk and processed with the help of the ISS’ experts.
ISS also continues work with the new-generation Glonass-K satellite, to be launch in late 2010.

Roscosmos PAO.

www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=10452&lang=en