Russia’s Rassvet programme, designed to mirror SpaceX’s Starlink, seems to be lagging. With just 32 out of 924 planned satellites launched, the progress is painfully slow, mirroring the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The first two batches of satellites were deployed at lower than expected orbits, with some failing to even perform necessary maneuvers, leading to potential reentry. Even those that have managed to reach a higher altitude are showing signs of trouble, with some satellites stagnating in their orbit adjustments.

The Rassvet program, led by Bureau 1440, aims to provide both military and civilian connectivity. However, the ongoing challenges suggest that Russia may still have a long way to go before matching Starlink’s global coverage and reliability.

With Russia’s Rassvet program struggling, the question remains: how long will it take before this satellite network can truly compete with SpaceX’s technological marvel?