[Satellite TODAY 03-05-13] After several years of setbacks and frustration, the Russian government now finally claims that its Glonass orbital satellite geolocation constellation has once again reached full strength. According to Russian space agency Roskosmos’s information and analytical center website, 24 Glonass satellites are currently functioning, while two more non-operational spacecraft are being serviced. Another two satellites are in orbital reserve, while one more satellite is undergoing flight-testing.
Glonass has had a bumpy ride to full operational status. Last month, Russian investigators announced that a contractor that helped develop the Glonass satellite navigation system was suspected of fraud causing 9.5 million rubles ($300,000) in losses. Moscow police detained Alexander Galkevich, the former head and main designer of the Gonets satellite system. Galkevich, who helped develop the Glonass system commissioned by the Russian government, is suspected of signing fraudulent contracts for work that was never done.
Despite the setbacks, the Russian government plans to begin testing its second Glonass-K navigation satellite this year. Russian Space Systems Co. (RSSC) Deputy Head Grigory Stupak originally announced that the second Glonass-K satellite would be tested by the end of 2012. The first Glonass-K satellite was successfully tested in February 2011.
The Glonass constellation was designed to provide an unlimited number of ground-, sea-, air- and space-based users with navigation services. Glonass is only the second worldwide navigation system to enter full operations following the United States’ GPS system. The European Union is currently developing its Galileo global system, which is scheduled to go online in 2014. India has been planning its own IRNSS navigation system over the Northern Indian Ocean with an expected launch date later this year, but has recently entered a partnership with Russia to use the Glonass system. China plans to launch its Compass navigation system by the end of 2020.
The Russian government may spend 346.5 billion rubles ($12 billion) on its Glonass satellite navigation system between 2012 and 2020. In 2011, the Russian Ministry of Economics agreed on a draft development program for the Glonass project with space agency Roskosmos. The draft was submitted for government’s approval in late January 2012.
The expenditures include 146.9 billion rubles ($5 billion) to support the system and 138.3 billion rubles ($4.6 billion) to build and develop it, according to the report.
Last month, Brazil became the first country outside of Russia to host part of the Glonass satellite navigation system. The Brazilian Space Agency and Roskosmos will jointly operate the system, which has been installed at the University of Brasilia.
Among other uses, Brazil expects the Glonass system to be used by the host university “to conduct aerospace and biomedical research. This initiative registers an account to Brazil as a country of choice for strategic partnerships of mutual interest in the space,” said Jose Raimundo Coelho, president of the Brazilian Space Agency.
The installation in Brazil will help Glonass accuracy in South America and benefit research in aerospace laboratories. The agreement signed between both space agencies establishes technical cooperation for Glonass as well as support for research studies on satellite navigation systems, and contribute to the training of personnel with technical expertise in this system.