Russia Launches First 16 Rassvet Satellites

A Russian aerospace company has launched the first 16 operational satellites for a planned broadband internet constellation designed to rival SpaceX's Starlink network. The satellites, part of the state-supported Rassvet project, were deployed from the Plesetsk cosmodrome on Tuesday using a Soyuz rocket, marking a key step toward providing domestic internet access across remote regions.

Bureau 1440, the private firm leading the development, confirmed that all satellites separated successfully from the launch vehicle and are currently undergoing system checks. Once verified, the orbiters will maneuver into their designated low-Earth orbit positions, equipped with laser transponders for inter-satellite communications. The company described the launch as a shift from experimental phases to operational service. "The launch of the first devices of the target group is a transition from experiment to the creation of a communication service," Bureau 1440 stated.

The Rassvet constellation aims to deliver high-speed internet to underserved areas, including rural locations with limited ground infrastructure, as well as for long-distance transport such as trains and aircraft. Initial plans...