GLONASS covers planet

The Russian orbital navigation system GLONASS has finally covered the whole globe with its signal, RIA Novosti cites Alexander Zubakhin, press secretary of the Russian Cosmic Systems Company, as saying.

The first of the three navigation satellites launched on November 4, 2011, has started operation at 9 am. GLONASS has 24 satellites used, covering the whole planet. The GLONASS has a total of 31 space devices. Three satellites are being prepared for operation, two are used for technical maintenance, one for tests and one is auxiliary.

The Glonass-M satellites are developed and produced by the Information Satellite Systems named after Acadmian M. F. Reshetnikov within the framework of the federal purpose program. They have been a part of the Russian orbital group since 2003. The Glonass-M satellites have a 7-year guarantee of exploitation. The GLONASS system was adopted in 1993. Russian and foreign consumers at any point on the Earth may use the system.