ZHELEZNOGORSK, Krasnoyarsk Territory. Nov 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Glonass-M satellite #12L, developed by the Reshetnev Applied Mechanics Research and Production Association, was airlifted from Krasnoyarsk to Baikonur overnight to Wednesday, the Association's press-service told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"Before being sent to the space center, the satellite had undergone comprehensive tests at the Association. The satellite will be prepared for a launch within an integrated unit, comprising two Glonass spacecraft, at the space center for a month. Glonass-M #12L is to be launched on December 25, 2004," a press-service official said.
He noted that Glonass-M #12L was the second Glonass-M family satellite. The previous new-generation satellite, Glonass-M #11L, was launched into the orbit on December 10, 2003.
The GLONASS global navigation satellite system was developed and fielded in the early 1980s. It is designed to provide navigation support to military and civil customers. The main task to be discharged by future Glonass-M navigation satellites, developed by the Association, consists in determining coordinates, time, and speed of an air, sea, or surface target with high-speed and precision.
In compliance with the special federal program "Global Navigation System in 2002-2011", the Reshetnev Association is currently upgrading the GLONASS system. The Glonass-M is the new-generation satellite, providing navigation information to an unlimited number of customers in any corner of the globe or near-Earth space. It features a considerably extended service life, as well as more precise navigation characteristics.
The GLONASS system has been acknowledged throughout the world. Its satellites are also employed by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), being developed under the auspices of ICAO. The Reshetnev Association and U.S. space companies are the only institutions to have mastered multi-satellite system technologies.