Rassvet Satellites Fail to Reach Orbit, Stalling Russia’s Starlink Alternative
Russia’s Rassvet satellite program, intended as a military alternative to Starlink, has suffered a major setback. The second batch of 16 satellites launched in July failed to reach their intended operational altitude, with some already decaying toward Earth. This failure highlights Russia’s limited launch capacity and the strategic impact of losing Starlink access in February 2026.