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Russia has lost another satellite from its Rassvet communications constellation, which is being developed by the company Bureau 1440 as a rival to Starlink. The company is actively testing its satellite communications system and terminals in remote parts of Russia.
On October 30, the Rassvet-3 satellite No. 17, identified by NORAD as 100083, burned up in the dense layers of the atmosphere. It was launched on July 19 aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket as part of a batch of 16 satellites, Defence Express reports.
The satellite apparently never activated its propulsion system or performed any orbital corrections after deployment. Atmospheric drag gradually lowered its orbit over three months and 11 days until it reached a critical altitude and burned up.
This is the second time Russia has lost an operational satellite from the Rassvet constellation after launch. The first was Rassvet-3 No. 4, which re-entered the atmosphere on June 6. It had been launched on March 23 as part of the constellation’s first deployment.
Following the launch of the second batch, two satellites — Nos. 17 and 23 — remained at risk of orbital decay for an extended period. However, on October 20, Russia managed to save satellite No. 23 by rapidly raising its orbit from an altitude of 220 kilometers.
Analysts say the satellite is now at an altitude of approximately 300 kilometers and continues to climb.
Despite losing two spacecraft, the Rassvet constellation continues to expand, although deployment is progressing very slowly.
Of the 30 Rassvet-3 satellites still in orbit, 26 have already reached an altitude of 500 kilometers. Satellite No. 11 is expected to reach that altitude soon.
Although the constellation was designed to operate at an altitude of 800 kilometers, satellites from both batches are currently gathering at around 500 kilometers. They are gradually spreading out to occupy their assigned positions in orbit.
Analysts explain that once all the satellites reach 500 kilometers and take up their designated positions, they will begin climbing to higher altitudes simultaneously and spreading around the orbit. Therefore, the fact that the Rassvet satellites remain at around 500 kilometers does not mean the mission has failed.
Moreover, Rassvet-3 satellites are already operating at this altitude, although only in test mode.
Bureau 1440 is actively testing its satellite communications system and terminals in remote parts of Russia. There have also been reports that communication terminals linked to the Rassvet constellation were found aboard Russian drones used to attack Ukraine.
Despite the slow pace of deployment, work on the Rassvet constellation is continuing and, according to analysts, is progressing relatively successfully. They consider the loss of two satellites a normal occurrence during the early launches of a new series of spacecraft.
The outlet compares the situation with the first Starlink launches. At the time, 60 satellites were deployed, but 10 failed to reach their intended orbit. Some were deliberately deorbited to test the system's disposal capabilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's adviser on defense technology, Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, has previously warned that Russia is developing the Rassvet satellite network to enable real-time control of attack drones and missiles.
He said the system could reduce the effectiveness of Ukraine's electronic warfare capabilities and that full coverage of Ukrainian territory could become available in approximately six months. He also described Rassvet as one of the most serious technological threats facing Ukraine and Europe.
