Unified State Ground Control Network (USGCN) is designed to control automatic spacecrafts, manned spacecrafts and space stations. USGCN solves movement control problems for spacecrafts of different purposes during all flight and descent phases, control of operation of all their equipment and systems, scientific, meteorological, communication, television, navigation and topogeodesic data reception, manned spacecrafts crew radio communication, carrier vehicle launch measurements.

USGCN is a combination of hardware components and facilities located at the Head test center of spacecraft testing and control (HTCTC SF) of Ministry of Defense (MoD) and at ground-based detached command and measurements complexes (DCMC). These facilities are connected by data and control communication channels into the unified automated control complex.

Facilities inside USGCN designed to control single spacecrafts or constellations of similar spacecrafts form ground control complexes (GCC) which together with onboard control complexes comprise automated control network of respective spacecrafts.

Accordingly, ground control complexes are distinguished by functional area:

• Geodesic spacecraft GCC;
• Communication and relay spacecraft GCC;
• Observation spacecraft GCC;
• Meteorologic,
• Topogeodesic and calibration spacecraft GCC, etc.

Russian Space Systems is the principal organization and chief developer of over 80 % of Unified State Automated Ground Control Network systems and facilities.

Today, Unified State Automated Ground Control Network can provide control of 180 spacecrafts and data support of carrier vehicle launches and upper-stage rockets. Ground-based automated spacecraft control complex facilities provide over 500 control sessions fof different purposes daily.