Cosmos 2501

Also called: Glonass-K1 No.12L

Prime contractor	ISS Reshetnev
Platform	Express-1000
Operator	JSC «Navigation-Information systems»
Mass at launch	935 kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Equipment
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power	1.6 kW
Design lifetime	10 yrs

Detailed view of the antennas of Glonass-K satellite at CeBIT 2011.

COSMOS 2501 is the second craft in a series of upgraded Glonass K satellites designed to last longer, transmit more navigation signals, and launch on smaller rockets. Like the first Glonass K spacecraft, which launched in February 2011, the second satellite will demonstrate new technologies that Russia plans to incorporate in the future operational Glonass navigation system. The Glonass K satellite is expected to operate for 10 years?an improvement from the seven-year design life of previous satellites, and features five navigation channels, including a new civilian L-band signal. The new craft are lighter, generate more electrical power, and are based on an unpressurized Express 1000K bus built by ISS Reshetnev."

The second Glonass-K satellite, vehicle No. 12, was launched by Soyuz-2-1B from Plesetsk on Nov 30, 2014. The Glonass-K series are the third generation of Russian high orbit navigation satellites, following the original Uragan/Glonass and their successors, the Uragan-M/Glonass-M vehicles.

Ref.: #7(JR706), #98, #207, #228 - update: 09.12.14