Russia successfully launched a Glonass-M
positioning satellite Sunday using a
Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, the Russian
Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The Space Forces, a branch of the
Aerospace Forces, launched the satellite
from the Plesetsk space center at 00:46
local time (2146 GMT).The pre-launch
procedures and the launch itself went as
planned, the statement added.
The Glonass network provides real-time
positioning data for surface, sea and
airborne objects around the globe, at an
accuracy reportedly on par with the U.S.
Global Positioning System.
With Sunday's launch, there are now 26
Glonass satellites in orbit.