GLONASS' Heroic Catch-up Effort an Inspiration for Manufacturers

GLONASS' Heroic Catch-up Effort an Inspiration for Manufacturers
December 16, 2009
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http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/glonass-heroic-catch-effort-inspirati=
on-manufacturers-9290?print=3D1

By: Alan Cameron
GNSS Design & Test Newsletter, December 2009

Although falling short of its goal of global service =E2=80=94 read 24 op=
erating satellites on=20
orbit =E2=80=94 in the near term, GLONASS=E2=80=99s heroic catch-up effor=
t should inspire cautious=20
confidence among manufacturers. More is needed, but this measure of optim=
ism should=20
encourage companies to keep plans for combined GPS/GLONASS receivers in t=
heir strategy.

The Russian space agency Roscosmos launched three GLONASS-M satellites in=
to orbit on=20
December 14. The trio joins a constellation now numbering 19 satellites, =
although it=20
effectively fields only 16 players. Thus the new recruits bring the Russi=
an space team to=20
19 =E2=80=94enough to ensure coverage of Russian sovereign territory, but=
not the world.

By launching just half the number of satellites it had hoped for in the s=
econd half of=20
this year, the Russian system must push further to the right its realisti=
c full=20
operational capability date. But its aggressive launch efforts =E2=80=94 =
if not results =E2=80=94 recall a=20
time circa 1990 when the U.S. GPS system played a catch-up game of its ow=
n.

No GPS satellites had been launched for more than three years, after the =
Challenger=20
launchpad disaster left the program without any vehicle to get its spacec=
raft into space.=20
Suddenly, in 1989 five Block II satellites reached their stations, follow=
ed by five more=20
in 1990. This series of events effectively solidified industry=E2=80=99s =
footing. As Gerard=20
Lachapelle points out in a essayette to appear in our January print issue=
=E2=80=94 20th=20
anniversary! =E2=80=94 this =E2=80=9Chad a major impact on the GPS equipm=
ent manufacturers, technology,=20
performance, and users. It accelerated investments in research and develo=
pment, in=20
addition to the long term planning of major users and suppliers of positi=
oning services.=E2=80=9D

Let=E2=80=99s all send GLONASS our warm holiday wishes for success on a s=
imilar scale.

The next GLONASS launch is scheduled for a February 11=E2=80=9320 time wi=
ndow.


Here's a grab bag of GLONASS goodies; consider it your satnav stocking, s=
tuffed for the=20
holidays.

A current constellation plot from sky-gazers at the University of New Bru=
nswick.

For postcards from Baikonor, head on over to HOBOCTN POCKOCMOCA, that's w=
hat I'm talking=20
about.

Video showing multiple views of the launch appear on the new Russian chan=
nel Vih Tubaski.

A video of last December's GLONASS launch includes an animation of rocket=
staging and the=20
dispersal of the GLONASS satellites and solar panel deployment.

Finally, on domestic Youtube (who is posting this?), a fascinating recent=
St. Petersburg=20
Channel 5 report with, inevitably, mention of "Amerikanski GPS," the odd =
peasant (was that=20
a Russian wolfhound?), footage of GLONASS ground control, animated simula=
tions of urban=20
canyons, and more.

I am indebted to Richard Langley and CANSPACEfor these treasures.

Best wishes to all, and to all, a good night.