Rassvet-3 No. 17 burned up in Earth’s atmosphere on October 30 after failing to reach its intended orbit, extending the Russia Rassvet Constellation Orbit Failure story for Bureau 1440. The satellite had been launched on July 19 aboard a Soyuz-2.1b rocket and reentered three months and 11 days later.
The spacecraft was designated NORAD 100083. It apparently never activated its propulsion system to raise its orbit, then lost altitude gradually under atmospheric drag until it burned up.
Rassvet-3 losses
The loss made Rassvet-3 No. 17 the second satellite lost from the Rassvet constellation. Rassvet-3 No. 4 reentered on June 6 after similar difficulties, leaving Bureau 1440 with a program that is still working through repeated orbit problems during its testing phase.
That testing phase still has a visible structure. Of the 30 Rassvet-3 satellites still in orbit, 26 had reached approximately 500 kilometers, another Rassvet-3 satellite was approaching 500 kilometers, and the planned operational altitude is around 800 kilometers. The satellites are being positioned at 500 kilometers before a coordinated ascent.
Rassvet-3 No. 23
Rassvet-3 No. 23 began raising its orbit on October 20 after descending to approximately 220 kilometers. It had climbed to around 300 kilometers and continued gaining altitude, showing that the constellation still has active spacecraft even after two losses.
Bureau 1440 has reportedly begun testing satellite internet terminals in remote Russian regions, and equipment resembling satellite communication terminals has been spotted aboard Russian drones used against Ukraine. The connection of that equipment to the Rassvet network remains unconfirmed, but the constellation’s testing pace now carries added weight: one satellite burned up after a failed orbit raise, while another is still climbing toward the fleet’s staging altitude.
Bureau 1440 testing phase
For now, the practical picture is mixed. The constellation remains operational in testing, but the loss of Rassvet-3 No. 17 means the network is still short of the full satellite set it needs for its planned ascent to around 800 kilometers. Why Rassvet-3 No. 17 failed to activate its propulsion system remains the unanswered issue hanging over the program.
