Russia has switched on two reserve Glonass-M satellites to replace the ones that were lost when a rocket deviated off course on Sunday, the head of Russia's state run space corporation Anatoly Perminov said on Tuesday.
The Proton-M carrier rocket, which blasted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on Sunday, deviated from its course by 8 degrees, resulting in the loss of a DM-3 booster with three Glonass-M satellites satellites.
The satellites were being launched to conclude the formation of Russia's Glonass Global Navigation Satellite System.
"I have given the order for two reserve Glonass-M space vehicles to be switched on. One of the satellites is on its way to the estimated point in orbit and will be ready for work after adjustment," Perminov said, adding that the second will go into service soon.
"After the launch of the new-generation Glonass-K satellite in late December, the Glonass orbital network will comprise 23 operational vehicles," Perminov said. "This number is enough to provide steady Glonass signal reception for users all over the world."
Glonass is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few meters.
Russia currently has a total of 26 Glonass satellites in orbit, with 20 of then in service.
MOSCOW, December 7 (RIA Novosti)
