Thursday, November 01, 2007

First Russian Glonass Navsat Launch of 2007

Russia successfully launched Proton-K rocket from the Baykonur launch site (launch pad 24 in launch complex 81) on 26 October 2007 at 07:35:24 UTC carrying three Glonass navsats.

The rocket, equipped with DM-2 upper stage, delivered the three Glonass-M navigation satellites into orbit. The satellites have been deployed into semi-synchronous circular orbits with altitude of about 19130 km and the inclination of 64.8 degrees.

2007-052A 32275 Cosmos 2431 Glonass number 718
2007-052B 32776 Cosmos 2432 Glonass number 719
2007-052C 32777 Cosmos 2433 Glonass number 720

These satellites are deployed in the third orbital plane of the Glonass constellation. The launch was originally scheduled on 25 October 2007, but was postponed because of a Kazakhstan holiday that day. Previous launch of Glonass satellites took place on 25 December 2006.

According to the Russian Strategic Nuc Forces blog they are expected to launch three more Glonass-M satellites on 25 December 2007.

You can find an updated and complete constellation table for the Glonass navsats at:
http://russianforces.org/blog/2007/10/three_glonassm_navigation_sate_1.shtml