Russia’s new space agency chief Dmitry Bakanov said Moscow is pressing ahead with plans to build a low-Earth orbit satellite constellation to rival Starlink, the internet service run by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
“Several test vehicles in orbit have already been inspected and the production ones have been modified accordingly,” Bakanov told Russian television host Vladimir Solovyov. “We are also moving at a rapid pace in this direction.”
Bureau 1440, a Russian aerospace company, is spearheading the development of the broadband satellite system, he said. Bakanov, 39, acknowledged that Roscosmos had to shed outdated practices and attract more young talent to compete effectively.
Starlink currently operates the world’s largest satellite internet constellation with more than 8,000 satellites, providing services in remote regions and conflict zones. It has been heavily used by Ukrainian forces during the war with Russia.
Bakanov admitted that Russia had underestimated Musk in the past. He recalled a 2002 episode when Russian officials dismissed Musk’s bid to buy an intercontinental missile for commercial launches — a rejection that spurred Musk to undercut Russia’s dominance in space transport.
The Soviet Union led the early space race, launching the first satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957 and putting Yuri Gagarin into orbit in 1961. But Russia’s space ambitions have since faltered, hit by funding shortages, corruption, and setbacks such as the Luna-25 crash during a moon landing attempt in 2023.
Bakanov, previously head of satellite operator Gonets, said the new initiative would mark a reset for Roscosmos.
“We must learn from our mistakes,” he said, adding that Russia aimed to reclaim its position as a leader in global space technology.
Finland and Sweden have called for tougher economic measures against Russia, proposing higher import duties, export restrictions, and an EU ban on Rus...
Finance ministers from the G7 and partner nations met in Washington on Monday to discuss a potential price floor for strategic rare-earth metals and w...
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said allied nations are discussing “next steps” to ensure the security of the Arctic, citing concerns that R...
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence an...
Donald Trump said Monday that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25% U.S. tariff on all trade with the United States, with the measure t...
Finland and Sweden have called for tougher economic measures against Russia, proposing higher import duties, export restrictions, and an EU ban on Russian energy shipments.
Finance ministers from the G7 and partner nations met in Washington on Monday to discuss a potential price floor for strategic rare-earth metals and ways to secure their supply. Representatives from Australia, Mexico, South Korea and India also attended the talks.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said allied nations are discussing “next steps” to ensure the security of the Arctic, citing concerns that Russia and China could become more active in the strategically important region.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy on Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme, beating strong competition in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
Bob Weir, the rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78, his family has said.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has been sentenced to five years in prison, fined one million lari, and had $6.5 million and several vehicles confiscated.
Georgia is returning to the international diplomatic stage as Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze travels to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, held from January 13 to 15.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the country’s decision to join the Abraham Accords.
Uzbekistan plans to significantly expand the use of electric vehicles (EVs), targeting a 10% share of all passenger cars by 2030.
In late 2025, Iran appeared to recalibrate its approach to Armenia, shifting from a security-centred posture toward a more conventional diplomatic engagement, as regional dynamics in the South Caucasus evolved.
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