Posted on 12/26/2008 2:08:22 AM PST by CE2949BB
A Russian Proton-M rocket was launched into space Thursday with three new satellites for Moscow's GLONASS navigation system, aimed at competing with US and European systems, a report said.
(Excerpt) Read more at physorg.com ...
How many different satellite navigation systems are there?
As of 2007, the United States NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully operational GNSS. The Russian GLONASS is a GNSS in the process of being restored to full operation. The European Union's Galileo positioning system is a GNSS in initial deployment phase, scheduled to be operational in 2013. China has indicated it may expand its regional Beidou navigation system into a global system. India's IRNSS, a regional system is intended to be completed and operational by 2012.
Source: Wikipedia entry for Global navigation satellite system
There's a couple more (France's DORIS, Japan's QZSS), too.
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