Image Courtesy: Defence Blog
Russia’s effort to build a domestic satellite internet network suffered an early setback after one of the first spacecraft in its Rassvet broadband constellation reentered Earth’s atmosphere and burned up less than three months after launch.
The satellite, known as Object 4 and tracked by NORAD under identifier 68363, fell back to Earth around June 6, 2026, after failing to perform any orbit-raising maneuvers following its launch in March. Without propulsion corrections, atmospheric drag gradually pulled the spacecraft out of orbit. The incident marks the first confirmed satellite loss for Russia’s Rassvet program, which aims to create a low Earth orbit broadband network comparable to SpaceX’s Starlink. The details were reported by space journalist Anatoly Zak, according to Defence Blog.
The Rassvet satellites were launched on March 23 in a mission notable for its unusual secrecy. Witnesses near the Plesetsk Cosmodrome observed the launch, but neither Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, nor the Ministry of Defense publicly acknowledged the mission. Confirmation only came later when Russian satellite communications company Buro 1440 released footage showing the satellites being deployed in orbit.
Tracking data collected in the weeks after launch revealed mixed performance across the constellation. Initially, none of the satellites appeared to conduct orbital maneuvers, raising concerns about possible propulsion issues. By early April, however, several spacecraft began raising their orbits, while others carried out station-keeping maneuvers to offset natural orbital decay.
Object 4 was the exception. The satellite showed no signs of movement throughout its operational life, suggesting either a propulsion failure or a more serious loss of spacecraft control. As its orbit steadily deteriorated, reentry became unavoidable.
The remaining satellites have performed more successfully. By early June, six spacecraft were gradually climbing toward higher operational altitudes, while several others maintained stable positions. Still, the uneven performance highlights the challenges facing Russia’s attempt to establish a large-scale satellite internet constellation.
Starlink’s success, particularly its role in providing resilient communications in Ukraine, has increased pressure on Russia to develop a domestic alternative. While early setbacks are common in new satellite programs, the loss of Object 4 underscores the technical hurdles that remain.