Russia launches 16 Rassvet satellites to rival SpaceX Starlink network

Tuesday 24 March 2026 - 16:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Russia launches 16 Rassvet satellites to rival SpaceX Starlink network

Russia has taken a step toward building its own satellite internet system, launching 16 low Earth orbit satellites as part of the Rassvet constellation, a state backed project designed to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink network.

The satellites were deployed on March 23 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by private aerospace company Bureau 1440. The company confirmed that all spacecraft were successfully placed into a reference orbit and will move into their operational positions after system checks are completed.

The launch marks a transition from testing to early deployment. Until now, Bureau 1440 had operated only six experimental satellites from earlier Rassvet missions. The company said the milestone was reached within roughly 1,000 days, signaling accelerated development of its communications infrastructure.

The Rassvet initiative is a key component of Russia’s national “Data Economy” program, which aims to expand domestic digital infrastructure. The project is supported by 102.8 billion rubles in federal funding and is expected to attract an additional 329 billion rubles in private investment by 2030.

Despite the progress, the scale of the challenge remains significant. Bureau 1440 plans to begin commercial service in 2027, targeting a constellation of more than 250 satellites by that time. Future phases could involve dozens of launches and hundreds of additional spacecraft, with projections suggesting the network could grow to around 900 satellites by 2035.

Russian officials have framed the project as a strategic response to Starlink. Roscosmos leadership has stated that the goal is to develop a competitive alternative capable of providing broadband connectivity across Russia and beyond.

However, the gap with SpaceX remains substantial. Starlink has surpassed 10,000 active satellites in orbit, with more than 11,500 launched since 2019. The network currently serves over 10 million users across 159 countries, establishing a global presence that Russia’s system is far from matching.

While the deployment of 16 satellites represents a technical milestone, it also highlights the scale of investment and sustained effort required to build a comparable global satellite internet network.