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December 30, 2002
   
On the 24th, Russia put three GLONASS satellites into orbit. GLONASS is the Russian version of GPS. Based on older technology, the GLONASS satellites last only a few years and, until recently, Russia was not replacing worn out satellites. Now it is, although not all 24 needed are up there. Russia needs GLONASS for it's ICBMs and other military equipment. On the same day, a Russian Space Force rocket put what was described as a "military satellite" in high orbit. Russia has been trying to rebuild its satellite inventory in the last year. Through the 1990s, lack of money for replacement reconnaissance satellites sometimes left the Russians with none up there.