Full Breakdown
Russia’s Rassvet Satellite Internet Project Confronts Technical Failures and Launch Constraints
8/26/2026, 9:24:02 PM
Core Event: Satellite Losses and Orbit-Raising Problems
Russia’s domestic broadband constellation, Rassvet, has suffered in-orbit setbacks. The first-batch satellite NORAD 68363 (Rassvet-3 No. 4) failed to raise its orbit and re-entered on June 6, 2026. A second launch on July 20, 2026 placed at least two satellites—Rassvet-3 Nos. 17 and 23 (NORAD 100083 and 100089)—into low-Earth orbit, but they have not performed orbital-raising maneuvers and are descending toward re-entry. Other spacecraft from the same launch remain at 310-330 km, well below the program’s target of roughly 800 km.
Background & Context
Rassvet aims to provide a Russian-controlled alternative to Starlink, delivering broadband to remote regions and supporting military communications. The project is led by Bureau 1440, which launched its first operational batch of 16 satellites on March 23, 2026 and a second batch on July 19, 2026. Funding combines 103 billion rubles from the federal budget with 329 billion rubles from Bureau 1440, for a projected investment of about $5.2 billion through 2030. The constellation is slated to reach 292 satellites by the end of 2027.
Official Statements & Responses
- Dmitry Bakanov, head of Roscosmos, said in June 2025 that the first stage would involve 350 satellites for global coverage.
- Vladimir Putin noted the system would support Russian military drone command networks.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed on August 22, 2026 that Kyiv had sought U.S. approval to extend Starlink access into Russian territory.
- The Progress Rocket and Space Centre in Samara was struck by Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles on August 15, 2026, raising concerns about launch-vehicle supply.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
United24media reports that two satellites (Nos. 17 and 23) have not performed orbital-raising maneuvers and face re-entry, while also noting three additional spacecraft descending at 310-330 km and nine maneuvering but remaining ~200 km below the altitude of the first batch. The Moscow Times emphasizes the imminent loss of at least two satellites. No public explanation has been offered for the propulsion failures.
What’s Next
Bureau 1440 plans to continue launching to meet the 292-satellite target by the end of 2027. This schedule depends on a steady output of Soyuz-2.1b rockets, now threatened by damage to the Progress Rocket and Space Centre and broader production constraints. Additional launch sites—Plesetsk, Vostochny, and Baikonur—remain available, but each launch must be coordinated amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes on Russian aerospace infrastructure. Resolving the orbit-raising failures and restoring rocket-manufacturing capacity will be critical to the constellation’s progress.
