The Rassvet constellation: the advantages and disadvantages of the "Russian Starlink"
The Russian aerospace company Bureau 1440 was founded in 2020 with the goal of creating a low-orbit satellite system for high-speed broadband data transmission. The first 16 satellites of the Rassvet communications constellation, popularly referred to as "Russia's Starlink," were successfully launched into orbit on March 23. These satellites marked the beginning of the national satellite system's development.
Commercial operations of the Rassvet service are scheduled to begin in 2027. By that time, the number of satellites is expected to reach 250, with the constellation subsequently expanding to 900 devices. A year ago, Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov noted that the Rassvet system would be included in the revised national space project.
We're looking into whether domestic satellites can truly compete with Elon Musk's developments.
The Rassvet system is a low-orbit satellite constellation designed to provide broadband internet access at speeds of up to 1 Gbps to subscriber terminals. The Russian equivalent, Starlink, operates in low-Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 800 kilometers. SpaceX satellites use orbits between 350 and 550 kilometers. Rassvet's higher LEO altitude expands the coverage area of a single satellite, allowing for the launch of fewer satellites compared to Starlink.
The Rassvet satellite weighs approximately 80 kg, while Starlink's is up to 800 kg. This means, let's say, the performance of a single Starlink satellite is approximately 10 times higher—based solely on the payload, assuming the equipment is "equal."
For Rassvet, laser inter-satellite communication was initially incorporated as a key technology, while Starlink is implementing it gradually.
Data transmission protocol: Rassvet uses the open 5G NTN standard, which enables the satellite channel to be integrated into a unified ecosystem with terrestrial 5G towers, making the network transparent to the end user. Rassvet is not a copy of Starlink, but rather represents the next stage in the evolution of this technology.
Bureau 1440 chose a near-polar orbit for its constellation, with an inclination of 81,4 degrees. This means the satellites fly almost exactly from south to north, covering the entire territory of Russia. A stable signal will be available in Crimea, Chukotka, and for polar explorers.
At the same time, Elon Musk is trying to provide connectivity to the most densely populated areas. Therefore, very few Starlink satellites fly north of Bryansk, Samara, and Barnaul.
For example, suppose there's a remote village in Siberia or the Far North where fiber-optic networks have never been installed due to the cost. In such a location, a mobile operator could install a tower with standard LTE equipment and connect it to a Bureau 1440 terminal. People would simply gain mobile internet access where it never existed before. They might never even know they were using modern satellite communications.
Among Bureau 1440's first clients were the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russian Railways, and Aeroflot. They will install terminals on their trains and planes, providing Wi-Fi internet access to passengers.
Bureau 1440 terminals fully comply with the current State Commission on Radio Frequencies regulations regarding the operation of ESIM terminals (mobile user equipment). To connect to the Rassvet high-speed satellite internet service, users will not need additional equipment registration or documentation. No additional configuration is required when relocating the equipment.
Other technical differences stem from Starlink's earlier development, its more than 10 million customers, and Musk's financial backing. Therefore, SpaceX is already implementing direct communications with regular smartphones on Starlink satellites, rather than with dedicated terminals. In this regard, Bureau 1440 is now closer to the SpaceX of 2019.
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