MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan is preparing for the launch of a Proton-K rocket with the DM upper stage carrying three Glonass-M satellites, the Federal Space Agency press service said on Thursday.
"It will be the first simultaneous launch of three Glonass-M satellites," says a report posted on the agency's website.
"There have been cluster launches before: two Glonass satellites and one Glonass-M were put into orbit in 2004 and 2005," the report runs.
According to the agency, new Glonass-M satellites developed by the Applied Mechanics Research and Production Association in Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk territory, boast an extended orbital life of five to seven years (as compared to three years of regular Glonass satellites) and a shorter preparation period at the cosmodrome, as they pass most of the checks right at the plant.
The transition to new navigation satellites with an extended service life will make it possible to make fewer rocket launches, thus reducing expenses on GLONASS system maintenance.
The Applied Mechanics Association is also developing the Glonass-K satellite with an orbital life of 10 years, enhanced specifications and a much lower weight than Glonass and Glonass-M satellites.
The Proton-K carrier rocket has passed autonomous system checks, and is taking autonomous and comprehensive tests of the control system on Thursday.
The two Glonass-M satellites have passed tests and are now in the storage mode. Electronic-vacuum thermal isolation is being installed in the third spacecraft. It is also taking pneumo-vacuum tests.
"The takeoff of the Proton-K with the DM upper stage carrying three Glonass-M satellites of the Russian global navigation system has been planned for 11:18 p.m. Moscow time (2018 GMT) on December 25," the report runs.