Question 1

What rocket is launching 3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461)?

Accepted Answer

3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461) is launching on the Proton-M DM-2 Enhanced.

Question 2

Who is launching 3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461)?

Accepted Answer

3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461) is being launched by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, a government launch provider founded in 1916.

Question 3

Where is 3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461) launching from?

Accepted Answer

3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461) is launching from 81/24 (81P) at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.

Question 4

What orbit is 3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461) heading to?

Accepted Answer

3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461) is heading to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO).

Question 5

Is the Proton-M DM-2 Enhanced reusable?

Accepted Answer

No — the Proton-M DM-2 Enhanced is an expendable launch vehicle.

Question 6

How many times has the Proton-M DM-2 Enhanced flown?

Accepted Answer

The Proton-M DM-2 Enhanced has launched 6 times to date, with 6 successful flights.

Question 7

What is the 3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461) mission?

Accepted Answer

Glonass-M, also known as Uragan-M, are the second generation of Uragan satellite design used for GLONASS satellite navigation system. GLONASS is a Russian space-based navigation system comparable to the similar GPS and Galileo systems. This generation improves on accuracy, power consumption and design life. Each satellite weighs 1415 kg, is equipped with 12 L-band antennas, and has an operational lifetime of 7 years.

Question 8

Where is the Baikonur Cosmodrome?

Accepted Answer

Baikonur Cosmodrome is in Kazakhstan and is the world's first and largest operational spaceport, founded in 1955. Russia's Roscosmos operates it on territory leased from Kazakhstan under an agreement running to 2050.

Question 9

What launches from Baikonur?

Accepted Answer

Baikonur remains a major hub for Russian crewed and uncrewed missions, with Soyuz rockets flying from active pads such as Site 31/6. The historic 'Gagarin's Start' (Site 1/5) has been retired from regular service.

Question 10

Why is Baikonur historically important?

Accepted Answer

Baikonur launched both the first satellite, Sputnik 1 in 1957, and the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin aboard Vostok 1 in 1961 — the two events that opened the Space Age.

Question 11

Can you visit the Baikonur Cosmodrome?

Accepted Answer

Baikonur is a restricted military and space facility in a remote part of Kazakhstan, with no casual public viewing. Visits are possible only through pre-arranged official or specialist tours with advance permits, usually timed around a launch.

3 x Glonass-M (Kosmos 2459, Kosmos 2460, Kosmos 2461)

Overview

Mission details

Launch Window

81/24 (81P)

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan

Frequently asked questions