Group launches satellites “Glonass” will resume this year – BBC News

The launch of the carrier rocket “Proton-M” with up to three navigation satellites “Glonass-M” could take place as early as this year. It will be the first after the accident in 2013.

Previously, the group launches were conducted when there was a re-creation of the GLONASS constellation was required to increase the number of operational satellites. At the moment the satellite constellation is created, and the devices themselves, if they fail, then one by one. Therefore, a more preferred single starts, Tass said a source in the space industry.

This year, a single satellite launch “Glonass-M” was held already, is scheduled for May 21. Another launch. The decision to hold the group start to “Proton” has not been made. It will depend on the status of the satellite constellation.

“Proton-M” was launched from the

81st site Baikonur cosmodrome July 2, 2013. Almost immediately after separation from the launch pad sharply deviated from the flight path. The rocket had fallen on its side and began to break up in the air. After that, “Proton-M” fell 2 kilometers away from the launch pad and exploded. Production of the launch vehicle and three satellites “Glonass-M”, as well as organizing their launch cost Russia about a 4 billion 400 million rubles. In 2010, after removal of non-standard three satellite drowned in the Pacific Ocean.