Soyuz 2.1b/Fregat | Glonass-K1 No. 17 (Kosmos 2559)

Launch Provider & Rocket

• Provider: Russian Space Forces (Government)
• Rocket: Soyuz 2.1b Fregat — Soyuz family

Mission

Glonass-K are the third generation of satellite design for GLONASS satellite navigation system. GLONASS is a Russian space-based navigation system comparable to the similar GPS and Galileo systems. This generation improves on accuracy, power consumption and design life. Each satellite is unpressurized and weighs 935 kg, and has an operational lifetime of 10 years.

• Type: Navigation
• Orbit: Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

Launch Site

• Pad: 43/3 (43L)
• Location: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
• View on map

Program

• GLONASS — GLONASS (ГЛОНАСС, IPA: [ɡɫɐˈnas]; Russian: Глобальная навигационная спутниковая система, tr. Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema, lit. 'Global Navigation Satellite System') is a Russian satellite navigation system operating as part of a radionavigation-satellite service. It provides an alternative to Global Positioning System (GPS) and is the second navigational system in operation with global coverage and of comparable precision. (Wikipedia)