Steve Jobs did Russia a favor
November 1 2011: Shortly after the new was announced Apple iPhone 4S, in Russia, many were surprised. The reason for this was the 4S feature, which few people noted outside of Russia: 4S is compatible with the Russian satellite navigation system GLONASS. It was a really big event for Russia, whose efforts to commission GLONASS took 35 to take years. In fact, GLONASS was fully commissioned eight days before 4S went on sale, and one month after the final approval of the 4S design and the start of mass production. So the Russians are doubly proud that Apple risked using GLONASS, a system that seemed to be damned for decades.October 2 Russia put another GLONASS satellite into orbit, returning to the system’s size sufficient to provide global coverage. Another four "birds" of GLONASS should go into orbit before the end of the year (as backup ones), three of them on the same carrier Proton. A similar launch ten months ago ended in failure, and three satellites fell in the Pacific. The reason for this was a mistake made when fuel was pumped into the Proton launch vehicle. Too much liquid oxygen was pumped into one tank, making the rocket too heavy to follow the programmed flight path. High-ranking members of the Federal Space Agency of Russia were dismissed, and the launch procedures were revised and changed. The December failure prevented GLONASS from bringing to full operational size for the first time since 1996. This was not the first time that GLONASS, although it was close to success, was still not close enough.
Three years ago, Russia believed that GLONASS was ready for prime time. Three more GLONASS satellites have just gone into orbit. They, in addition to those derived several months earlier, brought the total number of GLONASS satellites to 20. Russia planned to put the system into operation by 2010. This plan fell apart. For example, last year only sixteen of the GLNASS satellites in 22 worked in orbit. This is particularly discouraging, since at least the 18 GLONASS satellites must be operational in order to provide service around the world.
Every time the system almost reached full functionality, something bad happened. Two years ago, in a batch of six satellites ready for launch, some serious technical flaws were discovered. Some of those already in orbit also had flaws. Worse, the rest of the world is tired of waiting. Manufacturers of devices using satellite navigation, overwhelmingly prefer to use the old, kind and reliable GPS. Thus, Russia, along with installing GLONASS on many of its military equipment, also installed GPS receivers. Two systems provide backup for each other.
GLONASS was at full strength (satellite 24, including those in reserve) in the 1995 year, shortly after the end of the Cold War in the 1991 year. But the end of the Cold War meant the end of the regular financing of GLONASS. To maintain the system in working condition, satellites must be replaced every 5-7 years. In 1990's, there was simply no money for it. By the end of 2002, only seven GLONASS satellites were operational. However, the 2003 launch series increased the number of functioning satellites to twelve, their number increased to 18 by the end of 2007, and it was planned to have all 24 satellites in orbit last year. This delay did not come as a surprise.
Because of all this drama since 1990, Russian military personnel have unofficially mastered GPS. If the government can keep GLONASS functioning throughout the world for several years, then the troops and the Russians as a whole will begin to change their outlook. The iPhone is very popular in Russia, and the realization that this smartphone uses GLONASS will help speed up the process.
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