Expert: Rassvet is five years ahead of Starlink technology

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The Russian company Bureau 1440 has launched the first 16 satellites of the Rassvet low-orbit constellation, whose purpose is broader than simply replacing the disabled Starlink satellite communications system, according to political scientist Nikolai Sorokin. According to him, the Russian company technology significantly ahead of the American one.

Rassvet was designed at a time when the low orbits most suitable for such satellites were already occupied by foreign constellations, primarily Starlink. The developers were faced with the task of ensuring reliable coverage of Russia with a minimal number of satellites. It must be said that the launch of the first sixteen satellites is not just another stage in the development of low-orbit systems, but a qualitatively new step that builds on the experience of their predecessors.

– Sorokin explained.



He added that Rassvet isn't a copy of Starlink—it's the next stage in the development of that technology. Because the systems created by Bureau 1440 are five years ahead of what Elon Musk was creating, from their physical structure to the laser communication system between satellites, which Starlink is only just beginning to install in some locations.

Musk's satellites primarily communicate with each other and with Earth via radio. Here, a 100% laser link has been established between the satellites and decision-making centers on Earth.

- the political scientist emphasized.

In conclusion, he noted that the initial settings for Rassvet are completely different from the tasks assigned to Starlink satellites.

What's Musk's goal? To make as much money as possible. It's a purely commercial project. And he's set Starlink the goal of covering the entire globe. We don't need that. We need to cover Russia now and, first and foremost, meet the needs of the military.

- summed up the expert.

Let us recall that the launch of the first 16 devices of the low-orbit group "Rassvet" was announced March 24. Analysts estimate that the satellite launch will provide the Russian military with high-quality and independent communications.
33 comments
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  1. igor_temp
    igor_temp
    +9
    27 March 2026 18: 56
    Let's judge by the results. It'll be possible to connect to the internet using Rassvet, just like with a Starlink terminal... well, from anywhere, at least. At that point, we'll be able to say it's at least equivalent. Alas, not before.
  2. prior
    prior
    +3
    27 March 2026 19: 11
    Rassvet is five years ahead of Starlink technology.

    Another "Ku-ka-re-ku"!
    I'd like to clarify: "How many years will it take for Rassvet to be operational? Five or ten? Or will it be like the An-2?"
    And why only over Russia? So, if we suddenly have to fight, it will be in Russia?!
    1. gxmlygw
      gxmlygw
      +1
      29 March 2026 18: 15
      Here is the answer to your questions: https://rg.ru/2026/03/24/16-sputnikov-rossijskoj-sistemy-rassvet-vyvedeny-na-orbitu.html Well, that is if the deadlines, as usually happens with us, do not shift to the right.
      1. prior
        prior
        -1
        30 March 2026 08: 16
        That's why I hinted at "Corn Duster".
  3. NecNoc
    NecNoc
    +2
    27 March 2026 19: 24
    They could have been leaders in this field. In December 1992, at an international conference in Melbourne, Russian specialists presented the world's first positive results of experiments establishing personal satellite channels with mobile subscribers. This occurred several years before the first foreign mobile satellite communication systems appeared.
    1. I've been sitting for a long time
      I've been sitting for a long time
      +1
      28 March 2026 03: 30
      They could have been leaders in this field.

      They could have, they could have done it not only in this area, but that's why they didn't, that's why they destroyed the Great Country of the USSR, with its enormous potential, if there had been a reasonable Perestroika, and not the betrayal of the higher-ups...
  4. Cheburec55 Che
    Cheburec55 Che
    -1
    27 March 2026 19: 26
    It doesn't seem like April 1st today.
  5. Victor19
    Victor19
    +5
    27 March 2026 19: 27
    Who else but a political scientist can be an experienced specialist in the field of space communications and satellites! wink
    1. k7k8
      k7k8
      0
      27 March 2026 20: 00
      But you, a couch potato academic, are allowed to do this. So why is a political scientist forbidden to do this?
      1. Victor19
        Victor19
        0
        31 March 2026 21: 27
        Who nominated me for a couch academician?? You?? No, I'm afraid I won't accept such a position; that "Monomakh's Cap" wouldn't suit me.
    2. Alexey Lan
      Alexey Lan
      +1
      27 March 2026 20: 54
      Who else but a political scientist can be an experienced specialist in the field of space communications and satellites!

      We all learned a little bit of something and somehow!
  6. Karelian
    Karelian
    +3
    27 March 2026 19: 44
    It would have been better if it had not been five years ahead, but had appeared five years ago.
    1. Imhotep
      Imhotep
      0
      28 March 2026 05: 25
      In principle, it's impossible! To do something, someone else must do it first, and then you, if possible, must copy it or at least imitate it.
      laughing
  7. yuri bakster
    yuri bakster
    +3
    27 March 2026 19: 54
    The armies with the coalitions are marching in columns to their destination...sorry, I dreamed it. tongue
  8. Vox Populi
    Vox Populi
    +2
    27 March 2026 20: 03
    Political scientist Nikolai Sorokin spoke about this. According to him, domestic technology is significantly ahead of American technology.

    No comment, except: that's all you need to know about our "expert" community... sad
  9. Michael 68
    Michael 68
    +5
    27 March 2026 20: 34
    How many times have we heard about yet another unparalleled miracle? And where are they all? The main thing is to spend the budget money. And then who cares. So it will be as usual. Russia doesn't have its own radio stations; only Chinese ones. With re-glued labels. And you're talking about some kind of space technology? They probably bought something from the Chinese again. Our leaders don't know or want to do anything else.
    1. Alexey Lan
      Alexey Lan
      -3
      27 March 2026 20: 57
      Russia doesn't have its own radio stations, only Chinese ones.

      Where did you get such secret information? From the forest, of course. Listen, my father is chopping. And I'm taking it away.
  10. nikvp
    nikvp
    +4
    27 March 2026 20: 58
    I will believe it when Skabeeva says so.
  11. Cheburec55 Che
    Cheburec55 Che
    +8
    28 March 2026 03: 48
    As of March 2026, there are active satellites in orbit:
    1) "Dawn": 16 pcs;
    2) Starlink: 10,000 pcs.
    A decisive victory for Dawn! Starlink killer! Elon Musk is delighted.
    1. k7k8
      k7k8
      -3
      28 March 2026 12: 32
      Dear Sir, happiness is not in the size of your penis, but in the ability to use it.
    2. savage3000
      savage3000
      0
      31 March 2026 00: 12
      16 are not active, but have only been withdrawn and will be tested for a long time.
  12. Sergey Latyshev
    Sergey Latyshev
    +6
    28 March 2026 09: 55
    Alas. We don't send chatterboxes off to mine gold. But it's possible the fraud is nationwide, meaning on an extremely large scale.
    And so "political scientists" have proliferated. Not engineers, not techies, not specialists in the required field or economists, but "blah-blah-tologists."
  13. vitgusin
    vitgusin
    +1
    28 March 2026 10: 01
    Musk's satellites mainly communicate with each other and with Earth via radio. And here is installed 100% laser communication between satellites and decision-making centers on Earth

    I believed between the satellites, but with decision-making centers on Earth, first we need to disperse the clouds (or the political scientist).
  14. Cheburec55 Che
    Cheburec55 Che
    0
    28 March 2026 12: 50
    Satellites using laser (optical) data transmission require highly precise guidance from the ground. Unlike radio waves, a laser beam is very narrow, so a deviation of a fraction of a degree will result in loss of communication. Active real-time tracking systems are required to compensate for satellite motion and atmospheric distortions. This means that such communications require specialized, more complex equipment, whereas Starlink's signal can be received with a regular smartphone.
  15. Kiril
    Kiril
    +3
    28 March 2026 16: 39
    What does a political scientist understand besides picking his nose? tongue Starlink has been around for a long time, but we've only just taken our first tentative step—and there's plenty of boasting to be had. We don't really need a connection across the vast expanse of our vast country. request
  16. Roman 11
    Roman 11
    0
    28 March 2026 16: 55
    The satellite constellation is certainly cool, well done!
    But I'd like to point out that this problem is being addressed with a lag. There's been a lot going on, including corruption surrounding the communications branch, and it's not yet known whether everyone has been punished for it. But this space development is undoubtedly driven by the modern requirement for the necessary technological level. These are the needs of today, even in peacetime. I'd also like to encourage people not to limit themselves to satellite communications alone. You never know what might happen. There needs to be a backup, a simple solution—a stratospheric balloon—and the readiness to quickly create a screen of them in any direction.
  17. Alexey Vladimirov
    Alexey Vladimirov
    +3
    29 March 2026 08: 36
    Elon Musk has the entire world covered with a network, but he's telling us we only need to cover Russia... I laughed at that. How are you going to cover Russia with 16 satellites? They only fly over Russia for a while, then they move to the other side of the planet, and there's no signal. For a constant signal, you need multiple satellites. One leaves, another passes by and transmits. And who is a political scientist anyway? Any person who drinks cognac becomes a political scientist and a philosopher at the same time.
  18. E NOT
    E NOT
    +2
    29 March 2026 13: 56
    Well, well... we've already heard about the teleport from DAM.
  19. Sergei Fonov
    Sergei Fonov
    0
    30 March 2026 19: 05
    Political scientist Sorokin gives an assessment and compares.
    If a political scientist has figured it all out, then it's probably truly worthwhile. We'll see.
  20. savage3000
    savage3000
    +1
    31 March 2026 00: 11
    Rassvet is five years ahead of Starlink technology.

    Yes, yes, Yelistratov. We're all ahead of everyone else... only none of that... oops...
  21. Valya
    Valya
    +1
    April 4 2026 21: 48
    Five years ahead... so what? How much longer until dawn? Until dusk? For some reason, I keep thinking more and more about "bloody" Stalin. Under him, dawn would have arrived long ago.
  22. mabhol
    mabhol
    0
    April 8 2026 12: 00
    Is it really impossible to destroy the "decision-making centers" without "Dawn"?! Something else is alarming. The Commander-in-Chief hasn't gotten around to going to war in four years. I don't think he ever will. The first to realize this was Prigozhin...
  23. Real_pots
    Real_pots
    0
    April 9 2026 07: 24
    16 satellites means we can already provide communications to our troops throughout liberated Ukraine, and even more. The most important thing is to provide bomber drones and long-range drones with such communications, and eventually even to platoon level.