Russia's Rassvet satellite constellation, positioned as a domestic rival to SpaceX's Starlink, appears to be struggling in its early stages, with at least three of the first 32 satellites likely having failed outright and several more showing signs of trouble. The programme, run by Bureau 1440, aims to launch around 300 satellites by the end of next year and 924 by 2035 to provide military and civilian connectivity, but none of the satellites launched so far have reached their intended operational orbit.

Two launches, in March and July, put 32 Rassvet satellites into low-Earth orbit, yet none have climbed to the planned 500-mile altitude, with the highest reached so far just over 300 miles. Analysis from the Institute for the Study of War and independent trackers suggests one March-launched satellite has already reentered the atmosphere, two more from that batch have stalled, and several from the July launch have either stopped manoeuvring or appear headed for reentry. While some early failures are typical for new satellite programmes, as seen with SpaceX's own Starlink prototypes, it remains unclear whether Russia's satellites are malfunctioning or if officials have deliberately altered their orbital plans.