Finance
Russia Launches Low-Orbit Satellites in Bid to One Day Rival Starlink
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 24, 2026
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Quick Summary
Russia has launched 16 new low-Earth‑orbit operational satellites as part of the Bureau 1440 Rassvet constellation, marking a shift from experiments toward building a domestic Starlink competitor.
Russia Launches 16 Low-Orbit Satellites in Bid to Compete with Starlink
Russia's Ambitious Satellite Program and Its Global Context
Launch of 16 Low-Orbit Satellites
MOSCOW, March 24 (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday it had launched 16 low-orbit satellites as Moscow seeks to build a rival to Elon Musk's Starlink network.
Comparison with Starlink
Russia remains far behind Starlink, which since its first launch of operational satellites in 2019 has grown to more than 10,000 satellites in orbit.
Bureau 1440's Role in Satellite Development
First Batch of Operational Satellites
Bureau 1440, the Russian aerospace firm developing a low-Earth-orbit satellite system for global broadband data delivery, said it launched its first batch of 16 operational satellites on Monday.
Transition from Experiment to Communication Service
"The launch of the first devices of the target group is a transition from experiment to the creation of a communication service," it said in a statement.
Historical Context of Russia's Space Program
Soviet Union's Early Achievements
The Soviet Union led early milestones in the space race, launching the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957 and sending Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961 as the first human to orbit Earth.
Post-Soviet Challenges
But after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Russia's space programme struggled with funding shortages, corruption and complaints from young engineers about poor management.
Elon Musk's Response to Russian Dismissal
Origins of Starlink's Competitive Drive
According to Ashlee Vance's 2015 biography of Musk, Russian officials dismissed Musk in 2002 as not credible, spurring him to find a way to undercut Russia's space launch fees.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge. Editing by Mark Potter)
Key Takeaways
- •Bureau 1440’s 16‑satellite launch on March 23, 2026, signals a move from experimental to operational phase in its Rassvet broadband project (en.wikipedia.org)
- •Russia remains far behind SpaceX’s Starlink, which in early 2026 boasts around 9,500 satellites, compared to just six experimental and now 16 operational Russian satellites (space.com)
- •Bureau 1440 plans to scale rapidly: targeting over 250 satellites in service by 2027 and more than 900 by 2035, aiming at domestic and global broadband coverage (themoscowtimes.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia launches low-orbit satellites in bid to one day rival Starlink
1What did Russia recently launch to compete with Starlink?
Russia launched 16 low-orbit satellites as part of its efforts to build a global broadband network.
2Which Russian company is behind the new low-Earth-orbit satellite project?
Bureau 1440, a Russian aerospace firm, is developing the low-Earth-orbit satellite system.
3How does Russia's satellite program compare to Starlink?
Russia is far behind Starlink, which has over 10,000 satellites compared to Russia's initial 16.
4What is the significance of this satellite launch for Russia?
The launch signals a transition from experimental phases to creating an operational communication service.
5What challenges has the Russian space program faced since the Soviet era?
Since the Soviet Union's collapse, Russia's space program has struggled with funding, corruption, and poor management.
