The Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, plans to launch three Glonass navigation satellites in late October 2009.

Glonass, the global navigation satellite system, is the Russian equivalent of the US global positioning system (GPS), which allows users to determine their position to within a few metres.

At present, 18 satellites of the constellation are in orbit, covering the entire territory of the Russian Federation.

Six Glonass satellites will be added in two launches this year, bringing the total number of satellites to 24.

The October launch of three satellites will be followed by the launch of another three satellites in December 2009.