Russia… Deviant Delivery Into The Pacific Ocean (Satellites)

[SatNews] According to RIA Novosti, the Russian International News Agency, has reported that the DM-3 booster, with three Glonass-M satellites aboard, fell into the Pacific Ocean some 1500 kilometers northwest of Honolulu on December 5th, this according to a source in the aerospace industry.

“Three Glonass-M satellites fell into a non-navigational area of the Pacific Ocean in some 1500 kilometers northwest of the city of Honolulu, administrative center of the state of Hawaii,” the source said, adding there were no casualties or damage. A Russian Proton-M carrier rocket, launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan with three Glonass-M satellites and the booster, deviated from its course to 8 degrees. Glonass-M sattelites have not reached their planned orbit and may fail to function as normal. The satellites were launched into orbit on Sunday to complete the formation of Russia’s global navigation system.

Glonass is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few meters. Russia currently has a total of 26 Glonass satellites in orbit, but three of them are not operational. The three satellites were planned to be put into operation in about 6 weeks.