Russia Launches GLONASS-M Satellite

News courtesy of CANSPACE listserv.

GLONASS-M satellite No. 47 was launched from the Plestesk Cosmodrome on April 26 at 05:23:41 UTC by a Soyuz 2-1b rocket.

“At 12.55 [08:55 UTC] the GLONASS-M spacecraft was taken under management by the Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Centre. The spacecraft is installed [in orbit] and has maintained stable telemetry, and its onboard systems are operating normally,” said Colonel Alexei Zolotukhin of the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.

The satellite, also known as Kosmos 2485 and GLONASS 747, was placed in orbital plane 1 and is drifting to its designated slot.

Initial two-line element set for the satellite:

1 39155U 13019A   13117.72709898  .00000014  00000-0  00000+0 0    85
2 39155 064.8833 235.0937 0113505 116.3660 245.7001 02.09126432    35

ISS Reshetnev, the manufacturer of the satellite, reported that the first communication session confirmed that the spacecraft is operating as designed, its mechanical systems deployed, and Sun and Earth acquisition was completed successfully.

According to the CEO – Chief Designer of ISS Reshetnev, Nicholas Testoedova, this GLONASS-M satellite will be a reserve. The following year, after the completion of the examinations and tests, it will replace one of the older exhausted units.

After reaching a designated orbit, likely slot 2 in orbital plane 1, the satellite will complete several weeks of commissioning and testing before entering regular service. There are currently 24 operational GLONASS satellites. The GLONASS-M satellite is the second generation GLONASS satellite.