Russia’s Starlink rival lost a second satellite after it apparently sat idle for 103 days
Most of the other 30 sit around 500 km, short of the 800 km target. Bureau 1440 hasn’t said whether it lowered the goal.
On 30 October, a Russian satellite designed for Rassvet, a competing internet service to Starlink, disintegrated, according to Ukrainian defense outlet Defense Express. This marked the second loss for Rassvet since launch began in March. A third satellite may have been rescued, although sources are divided on the matter. On 5 February, Ukraine and SpaceX disabled Starlink terminals operated by Russian forces without proper authorization.
Rassvet is marketed as a commercial internet service, but it could provide Russian forces with satellite links that Ukraine has no US company to request be shut down. The European Union's sanctions package of 21 July targeted Rassvet, but operator Bureau 1440 remained off the list. Defense Express reported that Satellite No. 17, launched on 19 July aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying 15 others, did not activate its engine.
After 103 days, residual air drag caused it to fall low enough to burn up. Satellite No. 23 also faced a similar fate, sinking to 220 km on 20 October. Bureau 1440 managed to lift it, and it continues to climb. Space analyst Anatoly Zak's launch page still lists it among satellites expected to fall, citing the Aerospace Corporation.
As of 1 November, public tracking data placed it at 316 km, marked as active. Of the 30 satellites currently in orbit, 26 have reached an altitude of around 500 km, serving as a staging point before reaching the planned 800 km altitude.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
