Some are already in orbital decay, with two reportedly heading for reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works .
Developed by a private aerospace outfit called Bureau 1440, the Russians aim to expand the Rassvet constellation to 900 satellites by 2035. There’s still a very long way to go to hit that target. In March we reported on the launch of the first 16 Rassvet satellites. In June we followed up with news that one of them, dubbed ‘Object 4,’ had dropped out of orbit already. The ISW now says that only 12 of the first batch actually reached their anticipated altitudes. Running at lower altitudes will mean reduced lifespans as the lower-altitude satellites require more fuel.
The second set of 16 Rassvet satellites was launched in mid-June. Reports indicate that none of the second batch have reached their anticipated altitudes, so things don’t look good for this project. The ISW reckons that Russia will need at least 200 to 300 fully operational Rassvet satellites to achieve stable connectivity over Ukraine 24/7. Rassvet as it stands offers two up-to-90-minute connectivity windows a day over Ukraine . Meanwhile, Ukraine’s strategists surely have Russian satellite production and launch facilities on targeting lists. It looks like Russia’s interim target of 250 operational Rassvet satellites sometime in 2027 will have to be revised.
Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News , or add us as a preferred source , to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.
Russia’s new ‘Starlink‑Style’ Rassvet fleet loses its first satellite after weeks
SpaceX vaporizes 260 Starlink satellites in six months using Earth's atmosphere
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/space/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/space/russian-starlink-rival-flounders-after-entire-batch-of-satellites-fails-to-reach-operational-altitude-many-of-the-16-launched-hit-less-than-half-their-870km-target-and-two-are-already-falling-back-to-earth#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com/membership
- Samsung teases new HBM5 with twice the performance of HBM4E —ambitious data transfer rates could hint at 4,096-bit interface
- $30 buys you a brand-new HyperX gaming headset — save 40% on the CloudX Stinger 2 with massive 50mm drivers
- NVIDIA AI Factory Compute Is Becoming an Investable Asset Class
- Alienware's new QD-OLED gaming monitors boast 4K 165 Hz, 1080p 560 Hz panels — Dell’s new OLEDs target gamers who prioritize speed or crave pixel density
- Bring the Fire: Play Games on GeForce NOW With New Firefox Browser Support
Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.