Posted on 10/08/2011 2:17:56 AM PDT by AfricanChristian
MOSCOW, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Russia successfully launched a navigation satellite on Monday that will complete a global system to rival the U.S. GPS (Global Positioning System) and give a much-needed boost to the beleaguered Russian space programme.
The early morning launch from Russia's northern Plesetsk Cosmodrome was the first Soyuz rocket launch since a Russian unmanned cargo flight to the International Space Station (ISS) fell back to Earth in burning pieces in a failed August launch.
Russia is struggling to return confidence in its commercial launch capacity as a partner in the orbital space station after a series of botched launches.
When the navigation satellite becomes active in about a month, Russia's Glonass global navigation system will be "fully complete," the Russian space agency quoted its deputy head Anatoly Shilov as saying on its website.
The launch completes a constellation of 24 satellites needed to fully bring online Russia's answer to the U.S.-built GPS.
Moscow has spent $2 billion over the last decade in developing the Glonass system from Cold War technology used to guide Soviet missiles.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Another nail in the coffin of navel carrier groups.
Russia can already use U.S. GPS for commercial and personal use. They are setting up their own GPS network for military purposes, obviously!
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