Russia plans to launch six satellites

MOSCOW, March 27 (UPI) -- Russia will add six satellites to its global navigation system, GLONASS, in 2007, a spokesman at Moscow's Research Institute of Space Instrument-Making said.

Plans call for three satellites to be sent into orbit in September, and three will be launched in December, Itar-Tass reported Tuesday.

First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has described the GLONASS system as "a qualitative breakthrough in the navigation sphere" with great potential for commercial use.

Itar-Tass said the navigation system currently has 19 satellites but seven have been temporarily taken out of service.