Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat | Glonass-M No. 53 (Kosmos 2516)

Launch Provider & Rocket

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

Mission

Glonass-M, also known as Uragan-M, are the second generation of Uragan satellite design used 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 weighs 1415 kg, is equipped with 12 L-band antennas, and has an operational lifetime of 7 years.

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

Launch Site

• Pad: 43/4 (43R)
• 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)