Two satellites belonging to Russia’s Rassvet satellite internet constellation have failed to raise their orbits and have descended below an altitude of 230 kilometers. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell says the spacecraft could burn up in the atmosphere within the next 24–48 hours. Most of the constellation’s other satellites have stabilized at an operational altitude of around 500 kilometers.
The two troubled spacecraft belong to the second batch of 16 Rassvet-3 satellites launched by Russian company Bureau 1440 on July 19, 2026, aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket. Tracking data from late August had already indicated that the two satellites were heading toward orbital decay.
If both satellites are lost, the total number of Rassvet spacecraft to have left orbit will reach three out of the 32 launched. The first satellite in the constellation also failed to perform any orbital maneuvers after its launch on March 23 and re-entered the atmosphere in June.
Developed by private company Bureau 1440, Rassvet is intended to provide satellite internet access across Russia. Limited commercial service is planned to begin in 2027. The company aims to expand the constellation to 292 satellites by the end of 2027 and 900 by 2035.
