GLONASS (first-generation satellites) explained

GLONASS
Manufacturer:	Production Corporation Polyot
Designer:	ISS Reshetnev, Grigory Chernyavsky
Country:	Russia
Operator:	JSC «Navigation-Information Systems»
Applications:	Navigation
Spacecraft Bus:	3-Axis stabilized Uragan
Constellation:	GLONASS
Design Life:	3 years
Launch Mass:	1413kg (3,115lb)
Power:	1000 W
Batteries:	NiH₂
Equipment:	2 Cs clocks FDMA signals: L1OF, L1SF and L2SF Space Laser Ranging
Status:	Retired
Built:	88
Launched:	88
Operational:	0
Retired:	82
Lost:	6
First:	12 October 1982
Last:	25 December 2005
Lastretired:	30 April 2009
Previous:	Tsikada
Next:	GLONASS-M

GLONASS (Russian: link=no|ГЛОНАСС-М), also known as Uragan (Russian: link=no|Ураган) (GRAU Index 11F654) are the first generation of Uragan satellite used as part of the Russian GLONASS radio-based satellite navigation system. Developed by Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems, it had its debut launch on 12 October 1982, with the last launched unit on 25 December 2005 and the retirement of the last unit Kosmos 2403 on 30 April 2009. It has been superseded by the GLONASS-M (GRAU Index 11F654M), the second-generation satellites.

Design

It used a 3-axis stabilized pressurized bus with two solar panels, a propulsion module and a payload module. It weighs 1413kg (3,115lb) generates 1000W of power and had a limited design life of 3 years, but it was extended to 5 years in later models. It had a strict requirement of keeping the internal temperature at ±1 °C. The previous design used an embedded liquid cooling system that weighted 340kg (750lb). The Uragan implemented a gaseous cooling system that put most of the heat generating parts on the outside of the pressure vessel, simplifying the system and weighing just 40kg (90lb).

The Uragan-M are usually launched in trios, and due to the close distance, the radios of the three would interfere with each other, meaning that the ground segment can only command one satellite at a time. Setting sun pointing attitude for power and then Earth pointing attitude for communications for a single unit takes about 5 hours. Since the radio contact window with ground control is between 4 and 6 hours, ground control can not control all spacecraft in a single pass. The onboard computer in the Uragan-M can put the spacecraft in sun pointing mode autonomously, and does many of the start up processes so the ground segment can take control and process the Earth pointing mode. The payload consisted of 3 L-Band navigation signals in 25 channels separated by 0.5625 MHz intervals in 2 frequency bands: 1602.5625 - 1615.5 MHz and 1240 - 1260 MHz. EIRP 25 to 27 dBW. Right hand circular polarized. It transmits the FDMA signals L1OF, L1SF and L2SF. It uses 2 Cs clocks with a clock stability of 5x10⁻¹³. And includes retroreflector for accurate orbit assessment by laser ranging.

Versions

The first generation Uragan spacecraft were created under ban of foreign radiation-hardened components and thus had an inferior expected design life of just 1 year. Throughout the years the design was gradually improved to last up to 5 years:

Uragan Block I: First batch of 10 satellites. Only has an expected design life of 1 year, but averaged 14 months. Where launched between 1982 and 1985.
Uragan Block IIa: Second batch of 9 satellites. Same design life as Block I, but averaged 17 months. Added new time and frequency standards and improved clock stability by an order of magnitude. Launched between 1985 and 1989.
Uragan Block IIb: Third batch of 12 satellite. Had a 2-year design life time and averaged 22 months. Two launch failures meant that only 6 were operational. Launched between 1987 and 1988.
Uragan Block IIv: The most numerous batch of the Uragan design, it had 56 units built and launched. The initial design life was 3 years but later enhancements on radiation hardening increased that to 5 years. Launched between 1988 and 2005.
Uragan Block III: Transitional to GLONASS-M version with new flight control and power systems. This version was incorrectly named Uragan-M in a RIA Novosti news message issued days before the launch. When contacted by Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine Roscosmos spokesman said all three launched satellites were first generation versions but one of them featured new upgraded flight control and power systems. The official design life was declared to be 5 years.^[1] Novosti Kosmonavtiki also pointed out the fact that GLONASS-M project had been approved on August 20, 2001, just three months before Kosmos 2382 launch. Only one Block III satellite with manufacturer number No.11L was produced.

Block I, II, and III nomenclature was introduced in Western publications. In Russian publications both Block I and II are known as 11F654 while Block III is known as 14F17.^[2]

GLONASS launches

Satellite	Launch (UTC)	Carrier rocket	Launch site	Satellite type	Launch Block No.	SC s/n	Orbital Plane	Slot	Remarks
Kosmos 1413	14:57	Proton-K DM-2	Baikonur, 200/39	I	1	711	I	1
Kosmos 1490	18:24	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	I	2	712	I	3
Kosmos 1491	18:24	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	I	2	713	I	2
Kosmos 1519	00:52	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	I	3	714	III	18
Kosmos 1520	00:52	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	I	3	715	III	17
Kosmos 1554	15:11	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	I	4	716	III	19
Kosmos 1555	15:11	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	I	4	717	III	18
Kosmos 1593	15:49	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	I	5	718	I	2
Kosmos 1594	15:49	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	I	5	719	I	3
Kosmos 1650	22:28	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	I	6	720	I	1
Kosmos 1651	22:28	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIa	6	721	I	1
Kosmos 1710	21:43	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIa	7	722	III	18
Kosmos 1711	21:43	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIa	7	723	III	17
Kosmos 1778	11:38	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIa	8	724	I	2
Kosmos 1779	11:38	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIa	8	725	I	3
Kosmos 1780	11:38	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIa	8	726	I	8
Kosmos 1838	12:42	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIb	9	730			Failed to reach correct orbit
Kosmos 1839	12:42	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIb	9	731			Failed to reach correct orbit
Kosmos 1840	12:42	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIb	9	732			Failed to reach correct orbit
Kosmos 1883	02:53	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIb	10	733	III	-
Kosmos 1884	02:53	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIb	10	734	III	-
Kosmos 1885	02:53	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIb	10	735	III	17
Kosmos 1917	00:23	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIb	11	738			Failed to reach correct orbit
Kosmos 1918	00:23	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIb	11	737			Failed to reach correct orbit
Kosmos 1919	00:23	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIb	11	736			Failed to reach correct orbit
Kosmos 1946	17:57	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIb	12	739	I	7
Kosmos 1947	17:57	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIb	12	740	I	8
Kosmos 1948	17:57	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIb	12	741	I	1
Kosmos 1970	02:00	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	13	742	III	17
Kosmos 1971	02:00	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	13	743	III	18
Kosmos 1972	02:00	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	13	744	III	19
Kosmos 1987	02:05	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIa	14	727	I	2
Kosmos 1988	02:05	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	14	745	I	3
Kosmos 2022	08:32	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIa	15	728	III	24
Kosmos 2023	08:32	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIa	15	729	III	19
Kosmos 2079	08:32	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIv	16	746	III	17
Kosmos 2080	08:32	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIv	16	751	III	19
Kosmos 2081	08:32	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIv	16	752	III	20
Kosmos 2109	02:43	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIv	17	747	I	7
Kosmos 2110	02:43	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIv	17	748	I	4
Kosmos 2111	02:43	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/40	IIv	17	749	I	5
Kosmos 2139	10:47	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	18	750	III	22
Kosmos 2140	10:47	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	18	753	III	21
Kosmos 2141	10:47	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	18	754	III	24
Kosmos 2177	22:19	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	19	768	I	3
Kosmos 2178	22:19	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	19	769	I	8
Kosmos 2179	22:19	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	19	771	I	1
Kosmos 2204	01:59	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	20	756	III	18
Kosmos 2205	01:59	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	20	772	III	21
Kosmos 2206	01:59	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	20	774	III	24
Kosmos 2234	20:09	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	21	773	I	2
Kosmos 2235	20:09	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	21	759	I	6
Kosmos 2236	20:09	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	21	757	I	3
Kosmos 2275	07:49	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	22	758	III	18
Kosmos 2276	07:49	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	22	760	III	17
Kosmos 2277	07:49	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	22	761	III	23
Kosmos 2287	15:27	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	23	767	II	12
Kosmos 2288	15:27	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	23	770	II	14
Kosmos 2289	15:27	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	23	775	II	16
Kosmos 2294	00:39	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	24	762	I	4
Kosmos 2295	00:39	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	24	763	I	3
Kosmos 2296	00:39	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	24	764	I	6
Kosmos 2307	09:23	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	25	765	III	20
Kosmos 2308	09:23	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	25	766	III	22
Kosmos 2309	09:23	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	25	777	III	19
Kosmos 2316	15:52	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	26	780	II	15
Kosmos 2317	15:52	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	26	781	II	10
Kosmos 2318	15:52	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	26	785	II	11
Kosmos 2323	06:10	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	27	776	II	9
Kosmos 2324	06:10	Proton-K//DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	27	778	II	15
Kosmos 2325	06:10	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	27	782	II	13
Kosmos 2362	18:35	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	28	786	I	7
Kosmos 2363	18:35	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	28	784	I	8
Kosmos 2364	18:35	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	28	779	I	1
Kosmos 2374	14:12	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/24	IIv	29	783	III	18
Kosmos 2375	14:12	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/24	IIv	29	787	III	17
Kosmos 2376	14:12	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/24	IIv	29	788	III	24
Kosmos 2380	18:04	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/24	IIv	30	790	I	6
Kosmos 2381	18:04	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/24	IIv	30	789	I	3
Kosmos 2382	18:04	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/24	III	30	711	I	5	with upgraded flight control and power systems
Kosmos 2394	07:37	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	31	791	III	22
Kosmos 2395	07:37	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	31	792	III	21
Kosmos 2396	07:37	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/23	IIv	31	793	III	23
Kosmos 2402	13:53	Proton-K/Briz-M	Baikonur 81/24	IIv	32	794	I	2
Kosmos 2403	13:53	Proton-K/Briz-M	Baikonur 81/24	IIv	32	795	I	4
Kosmos 2411	13:53	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	33	796	I	1
Kosmos 2412	13:53	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 200/39	IIv	33	797	I	8
Kosmos 2417	05:07	Proton-K/DM-2	Baikonur 81/24	IIv	34	798	III	22

Satellites by version

Version	Launched	Retired	Launch Failures
Uragan Block I	10	10	0
Uragan Block IIa	9	9	0
Uragan Block IIb	12	6	6
Uragan Block IIv	56	56	0
Uragan Block III	1	1	0
Total	88	82	6

Notes and References

Web site: "Глонасс-М" будет еще не скоро . . https://web.archive.org/web/20030523230653/http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/numbers/229/12.shtml . 23 May 2003 . ru . GLONASS-M not that soon . December 2001 . 7 November 2018.
Web site: Космические аппараты ГЛОНАСС . ru . GLONASS spacecraft . 7 November 2018 . 8 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181108105326/https://russianrockets.net/rocketlist/!Spacecraft!/GLONASS . dead .