Russia has launched another GLONASS-M satellite, according to Roscosmos, the Russian State Space Corporation.

A Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle successfully carried the satellite to its planned orbit from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The launch took place on schedule on March 16.

Ground-based facilities of the G.S. Titov Space Forces VKS immediately took control of the satellite. A stable telemetry connection has been established and maintained with the satellite. The onboard systems of the spacecraft are operating normally.

The launch used a Fregat booster block produced by NPO Lavochkin, part of the Roscosmos State Corporation. The satellite was manufactured by ISS, also part of Roscosmos State Corporation.

The Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with encapsulated GLONASS-M satellite is transported to the launchpad. (Screenshot: Russian Ministry of Defense video)

For the GLONASS constellation, a full complement of 24 satellites are set healthy. In addition, four satellites previously in the constellation are classified as spares, in maintenance or in test.

The just-launched satellite is expected to replace a currently operational GLONASS-M satellite, specifically GLONASS 735 in orbital slot 24). Of the 24 healthy satellites, one is a K1; the rest are Ms. The satellite in test is also a K1 (the first K1 to be launched).