spacetoday.net: Proton launches three GLONASS satellites

Proton launches three GLONASS satellites

Posted: Fri, Nov 4, 2011, 1:55 PM ET (1755 GMT)
A Proton rocket launched Friday, carrying three GLONASS navigation satellites. The Proton-M rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 8:51 am EDT (1251 GMT) Friday, with satellite separation planned to take place about six hours later. The launch had been planned for Thursday but was postponed because of a technical problem with ground equipment. The three satellites will join the constellation of GLONASS navigation satellites, providing services similar to the American GPS system. The latest should enable the system to provide full global operation: the system needs 24 operational spacecraft, with 23 in service as of Friday. The launch is also the first Proton launch of GLONASS satellites similar a similar launch of three satellites failed last December.