# Russia launches 16 low-Earth orbit satellites as part of a broader plan to rival Elon Musk's Starlink system.

*aerospace · news · 2026-03-24 · Republic World*

## Key points

- Russia launched 16 low-Earth orbit satellites as the first operational batch of its Rassvet constellation.
- This marks Bureau 1440's transition from testing phase to development of a commercial satellite internet service.
- Russia plans to expand Rassvet to hundreds of satellites to achieve global coverage in the coming years.
- The satellite initiative represents a renewed push for Russian technological independence in critical infrastructure.

**Companies:** SpaceX, Bureau 1440
**Countries:** Russia, United States

[Read the full story on Republic World](https://www.republicworld.com/tech/russia-launches-low-orbit-satellites-as-it-prepares-elon-musk-s-starlink-rival)

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