Posted: Fri, Dec 26, 2008, 11:27 AM ET (1627 GMT)
A Proton rocket placed three GLONASS satellites into orbit on Thursday as part of a continuing effort to replenish the satellite navigation constellation. The Proton M rocket lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 5:43 am EST (1043 GMT) Thursday and placed the three GLONASS-M satellites into their designated orbit four hours later. The launch is part of an ongoing effort by the Russian government to restore the GLONASS system to full operation after the system fell into disrepair in the 1990s. With Thursday's launch there are now 20 operational spacecraft in orbit, close to the full complement of 24 needed to provide global coverage.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  RIA Novosti article
•  AP article
•  Khrunichev press release