Cosmos 2478, a Glonass-M Russian navigation satellite, was launched from Plesetsk on 28 November 2011 at 08:26 UT by a Soyuz 2-1B rocket. The satellite weighed 1414 kg. It joined the Glonass network of spacecraft at nearly full capacity, with 23 Glonass satellites operational, three satellites in their commissioning phase before entering service, two satellites undergoing maintenance, 1 in the midst of flight testing, and one satellite as an in-orbit spare. Cosmos 2478 brings Russia's fleet of Glonass navigation satellites to more than 30 working satellites, including the spacecraft not in active service. The Glonass constellation is spread among three orbital planes, each designed to contain eight satellites to maximize coverage around the world.
Alternate Names
Glonass 746
Facts in Brief
Launch Date: 2011-11-28
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat
Launch Site: Plesetsk, Russia
Mass: 1414.0 kg