GLONASS navigation system loses one satellite
One spacecraft has been withdrawn from the orbital group of the Russian navigation system, GLONASS, Interfax reports.
On August 24, the group consists of 19 satellites, 18 of which are operating to their target designation, and one is temporarily withdrawn for maintenance, according to the information posted on the website of the Russian Space Agency's information analysis center.
Until today the GLONASS system had 20 satellites. The first satellite withdrawn from the group was launched into orbit in December 2003 and started operating a year later. It was withdrawn for maintenance in early May 2009.