Plesetsk resumes preparations for Glonass-M launch

14:51, 24 September 2011

MOSCOW. September 24. KAZINFORM The Plesetsk spaceport in the Arkhangelsk region has resumed preparations for launching a Glonass-M navigation satellite with a Soyuz-2-1b rocket on October 1, Space Forces spokesman Col. Alexei Zolotukhin told Itar-Tass on Friday.

According to Itar-Tass, he said the spaceport personnel had attached the Fregat booster and the satellite to the rocket. The assembly will be complete on September 27.

"With the approval of the state commission, the launch vehicle will be installed on the launch site on September 29," he said.

There are 27 Glonass satellites in orbit at present; 23 of them are operating, one is being put into service, and three are out for maintenance.

Glonass general designer Yuri Urlichich said that five to six navigation satellites would be launched in Russia before the end of this year.

No less than 18 operating satellites are necessary for Glonass coverage of Russia, and 24 satellites make the system global.

Details also at http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/232317.html

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