Satellite navigation "GLONASS-M", was launched into space in March, it is planned to put into operation 15 April, according to the website of the information-analytical centre of coordinate-time and navigation support TsNIIMash (research Institute head of Roscosmos).
Sputnik "GLONASS-M," system # 760 was delivered to orbit during the launch of the carrier rocket "Soyuz-2.1 b" with the upper stage "Frigate" from the Plesetsk cosmodrome on March 16.
According to the website, the company anticipates that the satellite will work for its intended purpose on April 15.
He will be replaced by "GLONASS-M," system number 735, which is from April 10, transferred to the orbital reserve. This device was launched in March 2010 and have reworked the design life of seven years.
Now the Russian orbital group global satellite navigation system GLONASS includes 27 spacecraft (25 "GLONASS-M" and two "GLONASS-K"), of which 22 work for the intended purpose, two are in orbital reserve, one in flight test stage, one is commissioned, one – on maintenance. For global coverage of the Earth of navigation signals of the system requires 24 operational satellites.
