Russian satellite project hits snag as batch misses orbit, ISW says
According to ISW, none of Russia's 16 satellites launched in July reached the 550-kilometre orbit, and two could be lost.
Russia's Starlink-rival satellite project has suffered a setback, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The ISW says that none of the 16 spacecraft launched in July reached the 550-kilometer benchmark. Two of the satellites may reenter the atmosphere and be lost.
The assessment indicates that the latest batch is stuck in a lower-than-planned orbit. While the ISW does not give exact details about the cause, the fact that the entire batch fell short of the target altitude points to a serious problem with the launch or the spacecraft.
The 550-kilometer mark is used as a reference point in the ISW report. Falling below it means the satellites are not in their intended operational position. For the two satellites at risk, the outcome could be total loss if they enter the atmosphere.
This is a blow for Moscow, which has been working on a domestic alternative to Starlink. The project, often described as Russia's counterpart to the American satellite internet system, has yet to show the same level of success. The July launch was supposed to add 16 more satellites, but now that effort appears to have failed.
The ISW's findings suggest that the Russian program is not progressing as planned. The lack of orbital precision raises questions about the reliability of the system and its ability to compete with established low-Earth-orbit constellations.
