Russias space agency plans to launch its first batch of satellite internet terminals later this year in a bid to rival Elon Musks Starlink network, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said Thursday.The first launch is scheduled for the end of this year, Bakanov told the state-run TASS news agency, adding that the mission would carry 16 satellites.Just like how Starlink was deployed.The Rassvet low-orbit satellites, developed by Russian aerospace firm Bureau 1440, are designed to provide broadband internet coverage.
More than 900 are expected to be launched by 2035, with commercial services involving over 250 satellites planned to begin in 2027.On Wednesday,Bakanov had said Roscosmos would begin regularly deploying those satellites in December of this year.Rassvet is part of a broader Russian space development program valued at 4.4 trillion rubles ($57 billion) and endorsed by President Vladimir Putin last week.Starlink terminals have been key to Ukraines battlefield communications since Russias 2022 invasion.
Kyiv has accused Russian troops of using Starlink devices obtained illicitly from third countries.Putin first announced a Starlink competitor, Sfera, in 2018, but that project was scrapped amid sanctions on Roscosmos.Roscosmos launched three satellites under the Rassvet-1 project in June 2023, under former director Yury Borisov, who was dismissed in February following a string of failures and stalled programs.A Message from The Moscow Times:Dear readers,We are facing unprecedented challenges.
Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution.
This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia.
The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced.
But to continue our work, we need your help.Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference.
If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2.
It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression.
Thank you for standing with us.Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later.Remind me next monthThank you! Your reminder is set.We will send you one reminder email a month from now.
For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy.