TechIs Russia’s Starlink rival failing? Here’s what we know

Russia’s Rassvet program, intended to replicate SpaceX’s Starlink network, appears to be advancing slowly. Two launches this year placed 32 satellites in low Earth orbit, but none has yet reached its designed 500-mile orbit; the satellites were expected to raise their orbits using plasma engines.

Russiasatellite networkRassvetspace technology

AArs Technica★★☆☆☆2026-09-02 11:15Original