Russia’s answer to Starlink has lost another satellite. Could the setback derail its plans for battlefield communications?
A second satellite from Russia’s “Rassvet” constellation, developed by the Russian company Bureau 1440, has fallen out of orbit and burned up in the atmosphere, the Ukrainian outlet Defence Express reported. Independent trackers that rely on data from the U.S. NORAD space catalog confirmed the loss as well.
Russia's "Rassvet" satellite network, designed to provide battlefield communications, has suffered another setback with the loss of its Rassvet-3-17 satellite. The Ukrainian news outlet Defence Express reported the satellite's demise, with independent trackers confirming the loss using data from the U.S. NORAD space catalog. Launched in July 2026 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, the satellite was intended to reach an altitude of 500 kilometers but failed to fire its engine, causing it to burn up in the atmosphere by October.
Similar to two other "Rassvet" satellites, this one's trajectory showed minimal improvement since October 20. Only four of the 30 remaining "Rassvet" satellites are still climbing to their target altitude, with most already at the 500-kilometer orbit. The "Rassvet" constellation's higher orbit, intended to reduce the number of satellites needed, contrasts with Starlink's lower orbit, which provides faster, more reliable communications.
Starlink currently operates around 10,000 satellites, while only 30 "Rassvet" satellites have reached their intended orbits. If Russia can successfully deploy its "Rassvet" satellites, it could gain a significant communications advantage over Ukraine, potentially enabling more precise strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
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