GLONASS (first-generation satellites)

Design

Versions

• 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. 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 №11L was produced.

GLONASS Launches

Satellites by version