Russia is secretly working on a new satellite, Rassvet-4, which is to replace or supplement the problematic Rassvet-3 devices from the Russian company Bureau 1440.
Russia is secretly working on a new satellite, Rassvet-4, which is to replace or supplement the problematic Rassvet-3 devices from the Russian company Bureau 1440.
This is reported by the Defense Express publication, citing materials from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
According to the ITU, the Russian side has submitted an application for registration of a new satellite network called RASSVET-4. The project involves the deployment of a constellation of 374 spacecraft at an altitude of 800 km, which will be located in 17 orbital planes (22 satellites in each).
Experts suggest that the application indicates not so much the development of a separate network, but rather the testing of a new satellite, Rassvet-4, which will operate in a single complex with Rassvet-3. Presumably, this is a modernized version of the previous model, developed after a series of failures with the first launches.
The Russians' attempt to launch their own Starlink satellite is currently facing technical difficulties. Of the 32 Rassvet-3 satellites launched into orbit during two missions in March and July, at least two have already fallen. The remaining 30 have still not been able to reach their intended positions at an altitude of 800 km.
Bureau 1440 did not officially announce the creation of Rassvet-4, but back in September, company representatives mentioned work on improving the design of Rassvet-3.
The application submitted to the ITU also disclosed the first technical specifications of the Rassvet-4 antennas: the device will have 12 beams (7 for data transmission and 5 for reception), as well as updated operating frequencies.
Analysts note that the next launch of Russian communications satellites is expected in the near future, and it is possible that the new Rassvet-4 will be sent into orbit. At the same time, although devices similar to the Rassvet ground terminals have recently been spotted on Russian drones, the full functioning of the entire Russian system is still far from complete.
