So the new year, 2008, is there and I start this year with my first BLOG site. The idea is to write things about GNSS on this BLOG. I have a very modest aim of writing one article each month on this site. So I should manage to write 12 articles this year but not counting this one! I will set the end of the month as deadline for my montly articles.

However, in this first article I would like to inform you about two recent GNSS launch events. One GPS launch and one GLONASS launch.

The GPS launch took place on 20-December 2007 at 20:04 GMT a Delta II rocket holding the newest GPS satellite, IIR-18(M) was launched successfully from Cape Canaveral, FL. This GPS satellite, IIR-18(M), is planned to be stationed in GPS orbital slot C1. This satellite has been assigned the Space Vehicle Number 57 (SVN-57) and it will use the Pseudo Random Noise code 29 (PRN-29). This new GPS satellite is expected to be set healthy for use in early January 2008.

Click here for detailed information on the GPS constellation status.

The GLONASS launch took place on 25-December-2007 three more GLONASS satellites were launched successfully. This second successful launch in 2007 will bring the GLONASS constellation up to 16 satellites. With this the GLONASS system remains well on track to reach full orbit constellation and full availability in 2009.

Click here for more information regarding the GLONASS launch.

Click here for detailed information on the GLONASS constellation status.

Labels: GNSS, GNSS BLOG, launch schedule