Cosmos 2494 (Glonass-M Nº 54)

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• The Glonass M satellite, designated No. 54 in the Glonass fleet, was manufactured by ISS Reshetnev and is designed for a seven-year operational life. The Glonass constellation is scattered among three orbital planes, each designed to contain eight satellites to maximize coverage around the world. Russia says it needs 24 operational satellites to maintain worldwide service.

Mission details:

• Russia's Glonass-M No. 54 (Uragan-M No. 754) navigation satellite was launched from Plesetsk on Mar 24. It has been given the codename Cosmos-2491. The satellite was placed in a 19128 x 19153 km x 64.8 deg orbit by the Fregat upper stage. According to information on the Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum, the Fregat stages are using a new scheme of serial numbers; this one is No. 112-01 according to some reports. The '112' indicates that it is a Soyuz launch from Plesetsk for the civilian Roskosmos agency.

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