Three Glonass-M spacecraft Cosmos 2456 (Glonass 730), Cosmos 2457 (Glonass 733) and Cosmos 2458 (Glonass 734) were added to the Russian global navigation satellite system. They were launched by a Proton-M rocket with a Block DM upper stage from Baikonur on 14 December 2009 at 10:38 UT. The spacecraft are designed to last seven years. The constellation currently has 19 active satellites which enable continuous coverage of the entire Russian territory. Global service requires 24 active satellites. The GLONASS system requires satellites in three orbital planes. These recent additions to the constellation will occupy the first plane, orbital slots 1, 4 and 5.
Alternate Names
Glonass 730
Glonass 733
Glonass 734
Facts in Brief
Launch Date: 2009-12-14
Launch Vehicle: Proton-M
Launch Site: Tyuratam (Baikonur Cosmodrome), Kazakhstan