Russia’s Soyuz-2.1b rocket has launched the Glonass-M satellite into space from the country’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome.
During the launch, a Fregat upper stage has been used to deploy the satellite into orbit after the probe got separated from the third stage of the Soyuz-2.1b.
It took a couple of hours to insert the satellite into its planned orbit, according to Sputnik.
The launch represents the fourth mission of a Soyuz-2 rocket carried out from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome so far this year.
An unnamed official of Russia Defense Ministry was quoted by TASS as saying: “The Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket that was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on Saturday 3 November at 23:17 Moscow time, has successfully launched the Russian navigation spacecraft Glonass-M into the calculated orbit at a set time.”
Russia’s Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control has taken control of the Glonass-M satellite.
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By GlobalDataRussian Aerospace Forces have also completed deorbiting the Fregat upper stage rocket from the final orbit of the newly launched satellite.
The Glonass-M satellite forms a part of Russia’s GLONASS space-based satellite navigation system, which functions in a radio navigation satellite service.
Developed by Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems (ISS Reshetnev), Glonass-M features the second-generation Uragan satellite design.
The GLONASS system is being developed as a rival to the US’ Global Positioning System (GPS) and comprises a constellation of 24 satellites.
Next year, Russia is expected to launch the newest version of the system, known as GLONASS-K2, into orbit.
