Rassvet Constellation Stumbles as Russia's Starlink Alternative Fails to Reach Target Orbits

Russia’s Rassvet program, pitched as a domestic Starlink, has launched 32 satellites but none reached the intended 500-mile orbit; most remain around 300 miles, with several failing to maneuver. Analysts say the effort is hampered by reliability issues, funding shortfalls, production bottlenecks, and war-related disruptions, casting doubt on reaching a multi-hundred-satellite goal by 2035. The situation also complicates Ukraine’s battlefield communications and underscores how difficult it is to build a large megaconstellation from Russia’s constrained space industry.