Two Russian “Rassвет” Internet Satellites Lose Altitude and Face Destruction in Atmosphere

Two Russian Rassvet Internet Satellites Lose Altitude and Face Atmospheric Re-entry

Two satellites from the second batch of Russia’s Rassvet internet constellation are losing altitude at a rate of roughly 1.7 kilometers per day and will burn up in the atmosphere within weeks if their propulsion systems remain inactive, segabg.com reported. Space tracking data shows that units No. 17 and No. 23, cataloged under NORAD numbers 100083 and 100089, have dropped to an altitude of approximately 245 kilometers. The spacecraft failed to fire their engines to raise their orbits following their launch on July 19 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket.

Developed by Bureau 1440 as a domestic competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink network, the Rassvet project aims to build a low-Earth orbit broadband constellation. The July 19 mission successfully deployed a batch of 16 satellites, with the company initially confirming that all units separated from the launch vehicle and established communication with ground control. By late August, however, tracking data revealed that units No. 17 and No. 23 had descended below 300 kilometers, entering natural decay trajectories. According to CelesTrak data cited by segabg.com, a third spacecraft, unit No. 26, joined them in the downward drift by mid-September, while 13 of their sister satellites managed to ascend.

Earlier Deployment Failures Contrast With Current Constellation Targets

The latest orbital failures follow similar setbacks from the constellation’s first launch on March 23, 2026. During that initial deployment, satellite No. 4 failed to raise its orbit and disintegrated in the atmosphere on June 6 after spending roughly 75 days in space, as reported by segabg.com and Taralezh. Bureau 1440 stated at the time that the remaining 15 units operated normally. While official company documentation establishes a target operational altitude of approximately 800 kilometers, no mass-produced spacecraft in the constellation has yet reached that height. Data from mid-September indicates that the 13 surviving satellites from the first batch stabilized at altitudes between 508 and 513 kilometers. Meanwhile, the ascending units from the second batch reached only 313 to 332 kilometers—roughly 200 kilometers lower than the first batch achieved at the same stage in its deployment cycle.

Dnes България reported that neither Roscosmos, military authorities, nor Bureau 1440 have provided official public explanations for the propulsion failures or the altitude discrepancies. Despite these setbacks, the project schedule maintains targets of deploying more than 250 satellites by 2027 to initiate commercial service, and scaling the network to approximately 900 spacecraft by 2035.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Rassvet Satellites

What rockets were used to launch the Rassvet batches?

The second batch of 16 satellites was launched on July 19, 2026, using a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, according to segabg.com.

How low have the failing satellites dropped?

Satellites No. 17 and No. 23 have descended to an altitude of approximately 245 kilometers, losing about 1.7 kilometers of altitude every day, segabg.com reported.

What is the ultimate target altitude for the Rassvet constellation?

Official company materials set the target operational orbit at approximately 800 kilometers above Earth, though active satellites from the first and second batches currently orbit significantly lower, between 313 and 513 kilometers.

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