Message-ID: From: "Slater, James A. " To: "'iglosmail@igscb.jpl.nasa.gov'" Subject: [IGLOSMAIL-192] Possible News on Future of GLONASS Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 17:28:24 -0500 Sender: owner-iglosmail Precedence: bulk ****************************************************************************** IGLOS Electronic Mail 26 Jan 14:29:00 PST 2001 Message Number 192 ****************************************************************************** Author: Jim Slater The news article below was published in "Space News" on 27 November 2000. We will have to see whether the plans described in this article become reality, but I thought it would be of interest to the IGLOS community. Restoring GLONASS Russia plans to launch six satellites next year to replenish the depleted GLONASS. The launches will boost the number of functioning satellites from 11 to 17. To be fully functional, GLONASS needs 18 to 24 operational satellites. Russia is developing longer-lasting satellites that could ease the burden of replenishing the constellation. The GLONASS-M is designed to last five to seven years. The current generation of GLONASS spacecraft was designed to last three years. The first GLONASS-M satellite will enter service in 2002, assuming the development project is adequately funded. Another pro- posed GLONASS variant, GLONASS-K, is designed to last 10 years. GLONASS-K satellites is slated for introduction in 2004. GLONASS-K spacecraft also would weigh half as much as the current-generation satellites, allowing up to six to be launched on a single Proton rocket. [Space News 11/27/00] ............................................................................ ......................... JIM SLATER (301)227-4549 Fax: (301)227-4749 E-mail: slaterj@nima.mil NIMA,GICS, MS D-68, 4600 Sangamore Rd., Bethesda, MD 20816-5003, U.S.A. "The sooner you fall behind the more time you'll have to catch up."