A Russian Soyuz 2-1B Fregat-M vehicle successfully launched the Glonass K1-4 navigation satellite from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia at 0918 GMT on 7 June.
Glonass K1-4 (aka Glonass K16L) is the fourth Glonass-K upgraded Russian navigation spacecraft launched. It is expected to eventually enter a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) of 19,100 x 19,100km at a 64.8 degree inclination. Glonass K1-4, much like the equivalent US GPS navigation satellite system, is officially a military spacecraft – but the navigation signals have an extensive civilian use.
The 935 kg spacecraft is based on the Glonass K (Uragan K)/Express 1000K bus which replaces the old GLONASS-M type platform. Details of the launch were sketchy and no live stream was available. Instead Russian military confirmed the launch had proceeded as planned sometime after the launch.
David Todd contributed to this article.
Russian Aerospace Forces
