Proton launches navigation satellites
Posted: Mon, Dec 14, 2009, 1:55 PM ET (1855 GMT)
A Proton rocket launched three GLONASS navigation satellites early Monday. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5:38 am EST (1038 GMT) and placed the three GLONASS satellites into medium Earth orbits about three and a half hours later. The three spacecraft will permit the system to maintain at least 18 active satellites, enough to provide navigation coverage for Russia; global coverage requires 24 satellites. Russia has slowly been reconstituting the GLONASS system, similar to America's GPS system, since financial problems in the 1990s caused the system to fall into disrepair.
A Proton rocket launched three GLONASS navigation satellites early Monday. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5:38 am EST (1038 GMT) and placed the three GLONASS satellites into medium Earth orbits about three and a half hours later. The three spacecraft will permit the system to maintain at least 18 active satellites, enough to provide navigation coverage for Russia; global coverage requires 24 satellites. Russia has slowly been reconstituting the GLONASS system, similar to America's GPS system, since financial problems in the 1990s caused the system to fall into disrepair.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 17
Pentagon IG report reignites feud over Space Command headquarters relocation
Washington Times — 6:59 am ET (1059 GMT) Colorado and Alabama still fighting over Space Command, point to new report to back up arguments
Colorado Public Radio — 6:59 am ET (1059 GMT) Fight over Space Command HQ continues with new watchdog report
The Hill — 6:58 am ET (1058 GMT) NRO, mission partners launch NROL-174 from Vandenberg Space Force Base
Lompoc Record — 6:58 am ET (1058 GMT) Gayle King Responds to Backlash Over ‘Expensive’ Blue Origin Flight: ‘I Wish People Would Do More Due Diligence’
Variety — 6:57 am ET (1057 GMT) |
