Another navigation system, known as Glonass, is the Soviet/Russian equivalent of the U.S. Navstar/GPS system. Like its U.S. counterpart, it includes satellites deployed on semi-synchronous circular orbits with altitudes of 20000 km. There are also differences in configuration – the Russian system includes 24 satellite deployed in three orbital planes (as opposed to four orbital planes for GPS).

Status of the constellation

Official bulletins with the current status of the Glonass constellation are available at the web site of the Informational Analytical Center of the TsNIIMash. The Center also publishes its own estimates of the constellation status:

• Official TsUS Glonass bulletin
• IAC Bulletin

The table below is based on the information of these bulletins.

Recent launches

1. December 10, 2003
2. December 26, 2004
3. December 25, 2005
4. December 25, 2006
5. October 26, 2007
6. December 25, 2007