OREANDA-NEWS. October 21, 2008. Intensive prelaunch activities are carried out at Baikonur. Roscosmos expert groups began preparation of the launch pad and equipment (site 81) for the Proton-M rocket/DM upper stage/ 3 Glonass-M satellites launch scheduled for Dec. 25, 2008. Three Glonass-M satellites are intended to enlarge Russian GLONASS constellation.