GLONASS

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) is based on a constellation of active

satellites which continuously transmit coded signals in two frequency bands, which can
be received by users anywhere on the Earth's surface to identify their position and
velocity in real time based on ranging measurements. The system is a counterpart to the
United States Global Positioning System (GPS) and both systems share the same
principles in the data transmission and positioning methods. GLONASS is managed for
the Russian Federation Government by the Russian Space Forces and the system is
operated by the Coordination Scientific Information Center (KNITs) of the Ministry of
Defense of the Russian Federation.

The operational space segment of GLONASS consists of 21 satellites in 3 orbital planes,

with 3 on-orbit spares. The three orbital planes are separated 120 degrees, and the
satellites within the same orbit plane by 45 degrees. Each satellite operates in circular
19,100 km orbits at an inclination angle of 64.8 degrees and each satellite completes an
orbit in approximately 11 hours 15 minutes.
The ground control segment of GLONASS is entirely located within former Soviet Union
territory. The Ground Control Center and Time Standards is located in Moscow and the
telemetry and tracking stations are in St. Petersburg, Ternopol, Eniseisk, Komsomolsk-
na-Amure.
The first GLONASS satellites were launched into orbit in 1982. Two Etalon geodetic
satellites were also flown in the 19,100 km GLONASS orbit to fully characterise the
gravitational field at the planned altitude and inclination. The original plans called for a
complete operational system by 1991, but the deployment of the full constellation of
satellites was not completed until late 1995 / early 1996. GLONASS was officially
declared operational on September 24, 1993 by a decree of the President of the Russian
Federation.
Each satellite is identified by its slot number, which defines the orbital plane and its
location within the plane. The 1st orbital plane has slot numbers 18, the 2nd orbital
plane - slots 916, and the 3rd orbital plane - slots 1724.
The Russian military identified, in the late 1960s a need for a Satellite Radio Navigation
System (SRNS) for use in precision guidance of new generation of ballistic missiles in
planning. The existing Tsiklon satellite navigation system required several minutes of
observation by the receiving station to fix a position making them unusable for navigation
positioning purposes. In 1968 to 1969 research institutes of the Ministry of Defence,
Academy of Sciences, and Soviet Navy joined together to establish a single solution for
air, land, sea, and space forces. This resulted in a 1970 requirements document that

Chapter 16A GLONASS Page 1

established the requirements for such a system. After further basic research in 1976 a
decree was issued by the Soviet Union establishing the Global'naya Navigatsionnaya
Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS, Global Navigation Satellite System).

The constellation is currently operating in a degraded mode with only fourteen satellites
fully operational (June 2006).
A program for the gradual enhancement of the GLONASS constellation is being
developed.
Work is underway to modernize the system. The Russian Space Forces lunched flight
tests of a new GLONASS-M program between 2001 and 2004. The new GLONASS-M
satellite will have better signal characteristics as well as a longer design life (7-8 years
instead of the current 3 years). In the future, plans are being developed to transition to a
low mass third generation GLONASS-K satellites with a guaranteed lifespan of 10 years.

1.STATUS Information Group

GLONASS Constellation Status

( June 20, 2006)

|GLONASS|Cosmos|Plane/|Frequ.| Launch | Intro | Status |

|number |number| slot |chann.| date | date | |
|-------|------|------|------|------------|------------|-----------|
| 796 | 2411 | 1/01 | 07 | 26.12.2004 | 06.02.2005 | operating |
| 794 | 2402 | 1/02 | 01 | 10.12.2003 | 02.02.2004 | operating |
| 789 | 2381 | 1/03 | 12 | 01.12.2001 | 04.01.2002 | operating |
| 795 | 2403 | 1/04 | 06 | 10.12.2003 | 30.01.2004 | operating |
| 711 | 2382 | 1/05 | 07 | 01.12.2001 | 15.04.2003 | operating |
| 701 | 2404 | 1/06 | 01 | 10.12.2003 | 09.12.2004 | operating |
| 712 | 2413 | 1/07 | 04 | 26.12.2004 | 22.12.2005 | operating |
| 797 | 2412 | 1/08 | 06 | 26.12.2004 | 06.02.2005 | operating |
| 787 | 2375 | 3/17 | 05 | 13.10.2000 | 04.11.2000 | operating |
| 783 | 2374 | 3/18 | 10 | 13.10.2000 | 05.01.2001 | operating |
| 798 | 2417 | 3/19 | 03 | 26.12.2005 | 22.01.2006 | operating |
| 793 | 2396 | 3/20 | 11 | 25.12.2002 | 31.01.2003 | operating |
| 792 | 2395 | 3/21 | 05 | 25.12.2002 | 31.01.2003 | operating |
| 791 | 2394 | 3/22 | 10 | 25.12.2002 | 10.02.2003 | operating |
| 714 | 2419 | 3/23 | -- | 25.12.2005 | .......... | ......... |
| 713 | 2418 | 3/24 | -- | 25.12.2005 | .......... | ......... |

Chapter 16A GLONASS Page 2

 GLONASS
Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema
Global Navigation Satellite System
CONSTELLATION DESCRIPTION
Number of
24 Active
Satellites
Geometry 3 planes, 8 satellites each
Orbit MEO - 19,100 km (10,313 nmi) circular, 64.8 inclination
Orbit Period 11 hours 15 minutes
Coverage Global
Initial
Operational
1993 September 24
Capability
(IOC)
Full
Operational
Capability
(FOC)
Operated by: Coordination Scientific Information Center (KNITs)
Web Links: http://www.glonass-center.ru/frame.html

Chapter 16A GLONASS Page 3