Cosmos 2478

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Description:

• Cosmos 2478 is a Glonass M satellite. The Glonass system broadcasts navigation signals to Russian military and civilian users around the world. It is Russia's counterpart to the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System. Glonass M satellites are built by ISS Reshetnev and designed to function for seven years. COSMOS 2478 will join a network of spacecraft at nearly full capacity. Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, reported 23 Glonass satellites were operational as of Nov. 28, 2011.

Mission details:

• Russia continued its Glonass navigation constellation with the launch of Glonass-M No. 46 (constellation ID 746) on a Soyuz/Fregat from Plesetsk on Nov 28, 2011 into a 19102 x 19157 km x 64.8 deg orbit.