Russia Risks Losing 2 More Starlink Alternative Satellites
Two of Russia’s Rassvet satellites – the country’s answer to the US’s Starlink – are falling and risk burning up in the atmosphere, according to a cosmonaut researcher. Intelligence suggests that Russia aims to put 292 satellites in orbit by 2027 – while the number falls short of Starlink’s over 7,800 in orbit, analysts warned that the existing few dozen still provide regular albeit brief…
The Russian domestic satellite service Rassvet, the country's answer to SpaceX's Starlink, is reportedly losing two more low-orbit satellites as they failed to reach the necessary altitude. According to a report from the Moscow Times, citing cosmonaut researcher Anatoly Zak, the satellites were part of a batch launched on July 20 and both failed their orbit-raising maneuver.
As a result, they have now descended below 300 km and risk burning up in the atmosphere during reentry. Three additional satellites have not ascended and are hovering at around 310-330 km, while nine others are "maneuvering" but remain 200 km below the altitude reached by the test batch. One of the 16 satellites launched in March as the test batch was also lost in June.
This loss of satellites puts pressure on Russia's ability to provide crucial frontline communications, a service traditionally provided by Starlink. Rassvet, managed by the Russian firm Bureau 1440, was set to launch 292 satellites by 2027. Despite its small numbers, Rassvet has provided at least two daily communication windows over Ukraine, each lasting over an hour, according to analysts.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
