Putin's space exploits in full swing! His satellites fall back to Earth (VIDEO)
The article reports on recent setbacks faced by Russia's ambitious plan to launch its own satellite internet network, competing with SpaceX's Starlink system. Newly launched satellites from the Rassvet series failed to reach their intended orbital altitude, instead uncontrollably descending toward Earth's atmosphere. Of 16 satellites launched on July 19th, two did not complete the maneuver, while others began losing altitude by August. None reached above 360 kilometers, significantly below the performance of earlier March-launched satellites. Despite these issues, the Russian firm Bureau 1440 claimed successful launches and connectivity with the control center, though official confirmation from Roscosmos and the Ministry of Defense was absent. The project aims to provide an independent broadband network to replace Starlink, with plans to deploy nearly 300 satellites by 2027 and over 900 by 2035. Ukraine closely monitors the situation, noting that the current satellite group provides only limited communication access over Ukraine.
Russian satellite launches have encountered unexpected difficulties, with newly deployed satellites failing to reach their intended orbits and instead falling back toward Earth. The issue has raised concerns about the reliability of Russia’s independent satellite internet network, known as Rassvet, which aims to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink system. According to reports from Slovenian media, two of 16 satellites launched on July 19 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome using a Soyuz rocket failed to complete the maneuver required to ascend to their designated altitude. By August, these satellites had descended below 300 kilometers above Earth, far short of the target orbit. While some of the other satellites initially began ascending, three stopped gaining altitude by the end of the month and started descending again. None of the launched satellites reached the 360-kilometer mark, significantly underperforming compared to the earlier batch launched in March, which managed to achieve higher altitudes despite initial failures. The Russian company Bureau 1440, responsible for developing the Rassvet system, announced that the satellites had successfully established communication with the control center and would proceed to their intended orbit after system checks. However, neither Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, nor the Ministry of Defense officially confirmed the launch. This lack of endorsement highlights potential challenges in the project's credibility. The Rassvet initiative is meant to provide Russia with a standalone broadband network, offering an alternative to Starlink, which has been crucial for Ukrainian forces since the start of the war in February 2022. Bureau 1440 plans to deploy nearly 300 satellites by 2027 and approximately 900 by 2035, aiming to create a robust infrastructure capable of supporting military operations independently. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to monitor the situation closely. Ukrainian experts estimate that the current group of satellites provides only two brief windows per day for reliable communications over Ukrainian territory. For consistent coverage, Moscow would need at least 200 to 250 operational satellites. This underscores the strategic importance of Starlink for Ukraine, particularly in coordinating drone strikes and maintaining communication lines during combat. Despite ongoing efforts, the future of Rassvet remains uncertain, especially given the technical setbacks observed so far. In parallel, there are growing discussions about expanding Starlink’s use beyond Ukrainian borders. Elon Musk has reportedly expressed willingness to allow the system to be used by Ukrainian drones targeting locations within Russia, though this requires political approval from the U.S. administration. These talks were initiated by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who emphasized that escalating attacks deep into Russian territory could exert significant pressure on President Vladimir Putin to halt the war. However, Fedorov declined to comment further on his conversations with Musk, stating that such actions require additional funding for weapons systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the issue during a closed-door meeting with U.S. officials in July, requesting permission to use Starlink for attacking Russian missile launch sites. Since the beginning of the war, SpaceX has supplied Ukraine with around 20,000 Starlink terminals, increasing to nearly 50,000 today. The satellite network, consisting of approximately 11,000 satellites in orbit, enables continuous connectivity essential for battlefield communication and drone operations. Now, the fate of this expansion hinges on the decision of the White House, specifically Donald Trump, whose policies could determine whether such a move proceeds.
3 reports
Slovenske noviceIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 658/29/2026
The article reports on recent setbacks faced by Russia's ambitious plan to launch its own satellite internet network, competing with SpaceX's Starlink system. Newly launched satellites from the Rassvet series failed to reach their intended orbital altitude, instead uncontrollably descending toward Earth's atmosphere. Of 16 satellites launched on July 19th, two did not complete the maneuver, while others began losing altitude by August. None reached above 360 kilometers, significantly below the performance of earlier March-launched satellites. Despite these issues, the Russian firm Bureau 1440 claimed successful launches and connectivity with the control center, though official confirmation from Roscosmos and the Ministry of Defense was absent. The project aims to provide an independent broadband network to replace Starlink, with plans to deploy nearly 300 satellites by 2027 and over 900 by 2035. Ukraine closely monitors the situation, noting that the current satellite group provides only limited communication access over Ukraine.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about technical failures in Russia's satellite program without overtly criticizing or praising the government's actions. It includes perspectives from both the Russian side (Bureau 1440) and the Ukrainian monitoring efforts, maintaining a balanced approach. S
Why factuality (85): The article reports on recent issues with Russia's Rassvet satellite constellation, citing data from tracking sources and comparing performance to earlier launches in March. It mentions specific numbers like 16 satellites launched on July 19th, two failing to reach 300 km altitude, and plans for 300
Why objectivity (65): The article presents the situation as a challenge for Russia but does not provide balanced perspectives on potential implications or alternative viewpoints. The tone leans slightly towards highlighting Russian difficulties while also noting Ukraine's monitoring efforts, which may imply a subtle bias
Elon Musk je izrazil pripravljenost, da dovoli uporabo Starlinka tudi zunaj ukrajinskih meja, kar bi omogočilo ukrajinskim dronom, da zadobijo cilje v ruskem ozemlju. Ta možnost je bila sporočena bivšemu ukrajinskemu ministrum obramb Mihajlu Fedorovu, vendar je Musk poudaril, da gre za politično odločitev, ki jo mora sprejeti ameriška administracija. Ukrajinska stran nestrpno čaka na odločitev ameriškega predsednika, ker bi ta korak lahko prisilil Vlado Putina k prenehanju vojne. Ukrajinski predsednik Volodimir Zelenski je že predstavil to temo na sastanku v Beli hiši, kjer je zaprosil za dovoljenje za uporabo Starlinka na ruskem ozemlju. SpaceX je Ukrajini zagotavljal Starlink od začetka invazije leta 2022, kar je omogočilo stalno internetno povezavo za bojiščne operacije.
Bias read (Progressive): Artikel podčrtuje ukrajinsko stališče in poudarja njihovo potrebo po dodatnih vlogah v orožje za napade na ruskem ozemlju. Poudarja tudi vlogo Amerike in Trumpa kot ključnega odločilca, kar kaže na levi orientacijo. Uporaba izrazov kot 'najbolj realna pot' in 'prisiliti Putina k prenehanju vojne' pō
Why factuality (80): This article corroborates the main facts presented in the first article, including Musk’s conditional support for Ukrainian use of Starlink beyond Ukrainian borders, the involvement of Mihajlo Fedorov, and the request by President Zelenski to the White House. It also adds context about the timeline
Why objectivity (65): While the article reports the facts accurately, it uses emotionally charged language such as 'Bo Muskova tehnologija spravila Ruse na kolena?' (Will Musk’s technology bring Russians to their knees?) and emphasizes the potential impact on Russia, suggesting a more pro-Ukraine stance. Additionally, it
The article discusses the expansion of Starlink satellite internet services provided by SpaceX to Ukraine, highlighting its strategic importance in military operations. It reports that Elon Musk has expressed willingness to allow the use of Starlink terminals on Ukrainian drones beyond Ukrainian territory, but this would require a political decision from the U.S. administration. The system has been crucial for Ukraine’s communication and drone operations since February 2022, and its potential use on Russian soil could significantly enhance Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities. The article notes that Russia has also begun deploying its own satellite network, with plans to increase its satellite count to 292 by 2027.
Bias read (Center): The article presents information about the potential expansion of Starlink usage without overtly endorsing any particular political stance. While it highlights the strategic implications of allowing Starlink on Russian territory, it does not take a clear ideological position on whether such action, f
Why factuality (75): The article provides specific details such as the number of Starlink terminals (20,000 initially, now nearly 50,000) and mentions Elon Musk’s conditional willingness to allow Ukrainian use of Starlink beyond Ukrainian territory. These claims align with the general consensus found in other articles.
Why objectivity (70): The article presents the information relatively neutrally but includes phrases like 'Veliki preboj za Ukrajino' (A big breakthrough for Ukraine) and 'bo imela na bojišču veliko prednost pred Rusijo' (will have a huge advantage over Russia), which suggest a pro-Ukrainian bias. The tone leans toward e
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