Russian GPS" nears completion with succesful launch

[Project 627]

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Launch to bring Glonass global satnav system fully online

* First test of Soyuz rocket since August spacecraft crash

* Next space station crew to launch on similar rocket in November

By Alissa de Carbonnel

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.

It hopes the system, which has both civilian and military uses, will deliver what Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called "satellite navigation sovereignty" and help spur the development of domestic consumer devices.

The series of costly failed launches has fuelled worries among international partners over reliance on Russia as the only means to ferry astronauts to and from the space station since NASA retired its space shuttle earlier this year.

Russia blamed the failure of the Russian Progress rocket launch in August on a blockage in a kerosene fuel line and has set a new Progress launch for October 30.

That launch will be closely watched as the last test run of the Soyuz rocket before a new astronaut trio blasts off for the space station on November 14 from the Russian-leased launch pad in the southern Kazakh city of Baikonur.


Russian GPS nears completion with succesful launch | Reuters

[Mosamania]

Good. Carrying a Phone that uses GPS which can be easily tracked by anybody and any country especially the US does not make one feel safe.

[VCheng]

Good. Carrying a Phone that uses GPS which can be easily tracked by anybody and any country especially the US does not make one feel safe.

Both Galileo and Glonass also have the same tracking abilities built-in too.

[illuminatidinesh]

Both Galileo and Glonass also have the same tracking abilities built-in too.

But by the US....

[Dreamreaper]

Both Galileo and Glonass also have the same tracking abilities built-in too.

no.....none of the nabigation syste
has tracking capability...the satellites are transmitters not receivers and cannot travk a debice using their signal.

[Project 627]

GLONASS hits 5-meter accuracy


Russia’s GLONASS satellite navigation system has been upgraded to a precision of up to 5 meters after the successful launch of the 24th GLONASS satellite. The GLONASS-M blasted off the Plesetsk spaceport at 00.15 Moscow time on Monday carried by the Soyuz spacecraft with the assistance of the Frigate upper-stage rocket. The launch marked a turning point bringing the number of GLONASS satellites to a complete set, as planned by the designers.


GLONASS hits 5-meter accuracy « Satellite PR News

[Dreamreaper]

GLONASS had 100 meter accuracy when it started .
now with tweaking the satellite tracking procedure.they can further enhance accuracy

[Vibs]

Good. Carrying a Phone that uses GPS which can be easily tracked by anybody and any country especially the US does not make one feel safe.

Your phone is more likely to be tracked by your mobile service provider than by GPS. In fact, chances are it already is.

[Black Widow]

Your phone is more likely to be tracked by your mobile service provider than by GPS. In fact, chances are it already is.

I have made an application for service provider (Like verizone and vodaphone) for GSM/CDMA to track a user with accuracy of 3 meters...

My company work on it...

[Veeru]

Its a boost for India as our manufacturing sector and military will get a boost.

[VCheng]

no.....none of the nabigation syste
has tracking capability...the satellites are transmitters not receivers and cannot travk a debice using their signal.

Yes, you are correct but the receivers required to use the system effectively can be tracked, just as easily as cellphones, if needed. Also the signal's accuracy can be selectively degraded. Also, Galileo is not going to be free, it also has a mechanism to determine time of usage and billing capabilities built-in. Glonass may or may not.

[nomi007]

great progress of Russia in space

[gambit]

Yes, you are correct but the receivers required to use the system effectively can be tracked, just as easily as cellphones, if needed. Also the signal's accuracy can be selectively degraded. Also, Galileo is not going to be free, it also has a mechanism to determine time of usage and billing capabilities built-in. Glonass may or may not.

Only if there are two-way communication between the two devices. GPS signals are 'always on'. Receivers merely pick up those signals and do whatever they want with those signals. The reason why cell phones can be tracked is because the towers have knowledge of unique handset IDs and can query those IDs. No different than ordinary cordless phones where the base station must have knowledge of unique handset IDs within its range. So as long as the transmitter does not query but instead merely transmit away, there is no tracking.

[VCheng]

Only if there are two-way communication between the two devices. GPS signals are 'always on'. Receivers merely pick up those signals and do whatever they want with those signals. The reason why cell phones can be tracked is because the towers have knowledge of unique handset IDs and can query those IDs. No different than ordinary cordless phones where the base station must have knowledge of unique handset IDs within its range. So as long as the transmitter does not query but instead merely transmit away, there is no tracking.

That is correct for the US GPS system; I was referring to the Galileo and Glonass systems. They have built-in tracking since the receiver spec calls for low power transmitters to ground based sensors along highways and even inside buildings, the goal being seamless integration indoors and outdoors, right down to a particular door; Galileo also has a charging mechanism since it is planning to charge based on usage.

[gambit]

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That is correct for the US GPS system; I was referring to the Galileo and Glonass systems. They have built-in tracking since the receiver spec calls for low power transmitters to ground based sensors along highways and even inside buildings, the goal being seamless integration indoors and outdoors, right down to a particular door; Galileo also has a charging mechanisms.

The US military will not use either. Anyone who does not want to be tracked will not use either.