Uragan-K (GLONASS-K)

GLONASS (Globalnaya Navigationnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema, Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System) is a Russian space-based navigation system comparable to the American GPS system, which consists of Uragan spacecraft. The operational system contains 21 satellites in 3 orbital planes, with 3 on-orbit spares. GLONASS provides 100 meters accuracy with its C/A (deliberately degraded) signals and 10-20 meter accuracy with its P (military) signals.

Uragan-K spacecraft are the third generation of GLONASS satellites. These satellites have an increased lifetime of 10 - 12 years, reduced weight of only 750 kg and offer an additional L-Band navigational signal.

The Uragan-K spacecraft are 3-Axis stabilized, nadir pointing with dual solar arrays.

The payload consists of L-Band navigation signals in 25 channels separated by 0.5625 MHz intervals in 2 frequency bands: 1602.5625 - 1615.5 MHz and 1240 - 1260 MHz. EIRP 25 to 27 dBW. Right hand circular polarized. On-board cesium clocks provide time accuracy to 1000 nanoseconds. A civil reference signal on L2 frequency is to be added after the completion of flight testing of Glonass-M in 2004 to substantially increase the accuracy of navigation relaying on civil signals. A third civil reference signal within the new frequency band of 1164-1215 MHz offered by the Glonass-K satellite to enable civil airlines to use satellite-aided positioning as the primary navigation facility.

Uragan-K spacecraft can be launched in pairs from Plesetsk on Soyuz-2-1a Fregat boosters or in sixtuples from Tyuratam on Proton-K Briz-M launch vehicles.

Type / Application: Navigation Operator:    Configuration: 3-Axis stabilized, 2 solar arrays Lifetime: 10 years Mass: 750 kg Orbit: 19100 km x 19100 km, 64.8°

Uragan-K